Radiosurgery for Gliomas

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a neurosurgical modality that involves delivering a large dose of focused radiation to a lesion while sparing the surrounding normal brain tissue. The biological properties of some gliomas, specifically relating to their oxygenation and invasiveness, can make them good targets for stereotactic radiosurgery. Although randomized controlled studies are lacking, preliminary data suggest that radiosurgery may be a viable alternative for low-grade gliomas, with improved survival and a low rate of complications. Although the prognosis for malignant gliomas is poor even after radiosurgery, it is possible the radiosurgical treatment can allow the surgeon more flexibility in terms of operative planning and subsequently result in better quality of life for patients post-operatively.