Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT)

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is a type of radiation therapy that allows your radiation oncologist to precisely focus beams of radiation to destroy certain types of tumors. Since the beam is so precise, your radiation oncologist may be able to spare more normal tissue than with conventional external beam therapy. This additional precision is achieved through rigid immobilization, such as with a head frame as is used in the treatment of brain tumors. Although often performed in a single treatment, fractionated radiotherapy, where patients receive up to five treatments, is sometimes necessary. Stereotactic radiotherapy may be the only treatment if a very small area is affected. In addition to treating tumors, it can also be used to treat malformations in the brain’s blood vessels and certain noncancerous (benign) brain tumors.