Radiation Therapy Options for Brain Tumors

People with brain tumors should discuss treatment options with several cancer specialists, including a radiation oncologist. A radiation oncologist is a doctor who will help you understand the types of radiation therapy available to treat your tumor. Conventional radiation therapy treatment options for brain tumors include:

• External beam radiation therapy.

• IMRT has been used successfully to treat brain tumors by allowing higher doses and sparing normal brain and critical structures. With daily CT guidance, we are able to visualize the treatment area and match it to the treatment plan for ultra-precise IMRT. For example, the tolerance of the brain stem, optic nerve, and optic chiasm may limit the dose delivered to the tumor because of their proximity. With Image Guided Radiation Therapy, and its precision, we can spare these structures while delivering curative doses of radiation.

• Brachytherapy or internal radiation therapy.

• Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.