Stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic body radiation therapy-reflection on the last decade's achievements and future directions

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and its extracranial first cousin, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have become increasingly important in the palliative treatment of cancer patients over the past decade. Appropriately designed and adequately powered clinical trials have in many clinical scenarios amply justified the time, effort, and expense associated with the development and delivery of these highly conformal and complex radiation treatment plans. Ongoing trials are anticipated to provide further confirmatory documentation of the benefits that have been readily observed by caregivers, patients, and their families. It may be predicted that future directions for palliative radiosurgery will include simplification, through greater automation, of the detailed steps that are still required for safe treatment, and thereby increase the chances for patients to receive these advanced palliative interventions at local institutions, from local caregivers.