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The evolution of stereotactic radiosurgery in neurosurgical practice

Journal of Neuro-Oncology volume 151, pages 451–459 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) was born in an attempt to treat complex intracranial pathologies in a fashion whereby open surgery would create unnecessary or excessive risk. To create this innovation, it was necessary to harness advances in other fields such as engineering, physics, radiology, and computer science.

Methods

We review the history of SRS to provide context to today’s current state, as well as guide future advancement in the field.

Results

Since time of Lars Leksell, the young Swedish neurosurgeon who pioneered the development of the SRS, the collegial and essential partnership between neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and physicists has given rise to radiosurgery as a prominent and successful tool in neurosurgical practice.

Conclusion

We examine how neurosurgeons have helped foster the SRS evolution and how this evolution has impacted neurosurgical practice as well as that of radiation oncology and neuro-oncology.

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Funding

This publication was made possible through the support of the Eveleigh Family Career Development Award for Cancer Research at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road South, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA

    Daniel M. Trifiletti & Henry Ruiz-Garcia

  2. Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Daniel M. Trifiletti, Henry Ruiz-Garcia & Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa

  3. Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    Rohan Ramakrishna

  4. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Jason P. Sheehan

Authors
  1. Daniel M. Trifiletti
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  2. Henry Ruiz-Garcia
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  4. Rohan Ramakrishna
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  5. Jason P. Sheehan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel M. Trifiletti.

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DMT has received clinical trial funding from Novocure and publishing fees from Springer. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Trifiletti, D.M., Ruiz-Garcia, H., Quinones-Hinojosa, A. et al. The evolution of stereotactic radiosurgery in neurosurgical practice. J Neurooncol 151, 451–459 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-020-03392-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-020-03392-0

Keywords

  • Neurosurgery
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery
  • History
  • Lars leksell
  • Gamma knife