Radiosurgery
Milestones
1895: Dutch physicist Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen discovers X-rays. X-rays permit
the accurate examination of bones but not soft tissue.
1896: American physiologist Walter Cannon finds that the consumption of
certain types of salts (i.e., bismuth salts), illuminate the digestive
system, thus extending the use of X-rays to diagnosing soft tissue
in the body. However, tumors inside the skull are not made distinct.
1898: Marie and Pierre Curie discover radium, opening the doors to radiation
therapy as an accepted treatment of cancer.
Mid-1930s: Brain scanning procedures come into being with the development of
isotope scanning. This procedure reveals the presence, general shape
and, sometimes, the size of an abnormality or lesion.
1950s: Lars Leksell develops stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) at the Karolinska
Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.
Mid-1970s: Computerized tomography, also known as computerized axial tomography
(CT and CAT) is developed, allowing for the first time the precise
examination of the brain.
1980s: First modified linear accelerator (LINAC) radiosurgery systems is
used to treat brain tumors
Early
1990s: First dedicated LINAC radiosurgery system is established
at Harvard Medical Center.
1998: Novalis® Shaped Beam Surgery™ is introduced at the UCLA Jonsson
Comprehensive Cancer Center. Novalis continuously shapes radiation
beams to conform precisely to the tumor, allowing for safe delivery
of higher doses to the tumor while protecting surrounding tissue.
2001: Novalis® Shaped Beam Surgery™ application for targets outside
the brain is FDA cleared (7/31/01). With comparable precision for
treating brain tumors, Novalis® Body images and positions the
patient just prior to highly focused, shaped beam delivery for tumors
of the head and neck, spine, liver, lung and prostate.
2002: Launch of Image-Guided Targeting.
Benefits
of Radiosurgery
Clinical
Benefits of Radiosurgery
Radiosurgery
is a proven alternative for many indications in the cranium, head,
neck and spine. Clinical publications confirm the superior efficiency
of radiosurgery, which, depending on the specific indication, offers
lower risk of complications, shorter hospital stays, lower morbidity
rates, and improved quality of life compared to traditional surgery.
Expanding a neurosurgery department's capabilities allows surgeons
to offer patients a broader range of treatment options. New advances
in clinical practice and techniques will make a wider range of applications
for radiosurgery throughout the body available.
Financial
Benefits of Radiosurgery
The
addition of stereotactic radiosurgery to a hospital's treatment portfolio
increases case potential and provides a cost-effective alternative
to traditional surgical procedures. Benefits of radiosurgery include
reduced treatment costs and increased patient volume, utilization
rate and revenue. In today's ever-changing health-care environment,
continuous advancements in medical technology go hand in hand with
improved patient care. To be up to date and competitive, hospitals
must critically evaluate and add new technologies balanced with budgetary
constraints and cost containment considerations. Radiosurgery offers
proven state-of-the-art capability, together with an attractive return
on investment. New reimbursement avenues are created and revenue is
not foregone by referring patients.
