[STEREOTACTIC BODY RADIATION THERAPY IN MALIGNANT TUMORS]

Abstract

Ionizing radiation plays an important role in the treatment of patients with malignancy for cure and palliation. In the last decade there have been significant technological advances in radiation equipment, imaging and software. Owing to these developments, modern radiation is being shaped according to the size and form of the target organ and is accurate in locating the target location and can even take into account respiratory motion. Thanks to these developments, radiobiological concepts in radiation therapy have been tested and applied. Radiation doses have been increased to 5-20Gy/fraction and the number of treatments has been reduced to an average of five. This type of treatment is called Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). The application of this treatment to various tumors may improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy, increasing local tumor control and reducing side effects. Another benefit is cutting the overall treatment time. The present article presents a review of literature on stereotactic radiation in lung tumors, prostate cancer, primary liver tumors and in oligo-metastases.