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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Gynecologic Cancer
Published on: April 17, 2012
The option of Linac-based radiosurgery in a Gamma Knife radiosurgery center
Robin L Stern1, Julian R Perks, Conrad T Pappas
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, United States. robin.stern@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Objective:
Due to the fundamental differences in treatment delivery, linear-accelerator-based radiosurgery can be complementary to Gamma Knife (GK) for intracranial lesions. We reviewed the effect of adding GK to an existing linear accelerator (Linac)-based radiosurgery practice and analyzed case selections for the two modalities.
Patients And Methods:
UC Davis Medical Center installed a Leksell Gamma Knife Model C in October 2003 to supplement an established Linac-based radiosurgery program. Radiosurgery indications for the 15 months before and after installation were compared.
Results:
Radiosurgery cases expanded by twofold from 68 patients before GK installation to 139 after, with 106 treated by GK and 33 by Linac. Besides a major increase for trigeminal neuralgia and a general growth for acoustic neuroma, meningioma and brain metastases, case numbers for glioma and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) remained stable. Considering case selections for Linac, glioma decreased from 28 to 18%, while meningioma and metastases increased from 9 to 21% and 38-46%, respectively. The Linac patients receiving fractionated treatment also increased from 37 to 61%.
Conclusions:
While the majority of patients were treated with GK, a significant proportion was judged to be suited for Linac treatment. This latter group included particularly patients who benefit from fractionated therapy.
