[Stereotaxic brain radiosurgery in Hungary 1991-2009]

Stereotaxic brain radiosurgery as a non-invasive type of local treatment appeared as a therapeutic approach of intracranial lesions in the middle of the last century. Originally it was developed for treating functional disorders but with the evolution of their medication the clinical need increasingly turned to treating pathomorphological intracerebral target volumes. A review of the indication's historical changes and the installation, methods, results and perspectives of Hungarian brain radiosurgery are presented. During the above mentioned period 2565 patient have been treated in five institutes of Hungary: 52% for brain metastases, 29.5% for benignomas, 12% for arteriovenous malformations, 6% for primary malignant brain tumors and 0.5% for functional disorders. Local tumor control of 86% and median survivals among patients with metastasis of 24 months in RPA class 1, 8.5 months in RPA 2 and 3.4 months in RPA 3 were reported. These results are comparable with those in the literature. Hopefully with a change in the therapeutic approach and better organization of patients' management, stereotaxic brain radiosurgery will be integrated into everyday routine in Hungary.