Stereotactic Radiosurgery -- 718.246.8614

New York Methodist Hospital was one of the first in the New York area to offer the techniques of stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy. The procedures, which are sometimes referred to as "brain surgery without the knife," use technology for treating some kinds of brain tumors and vascular malformations of the brain. These lesions may be inaccessible or unsuitable for conventional neurosurgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery can also be used to obtain biopsies.

Stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy use high energy, pencil-thin x-rays to destroy brain tumors and other lesions. The laser is so precise that it can destroy tumors while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue.

Neurosurgeons work together with radiation oncologists and physicists from New York Methodist Regional Radiation Oncology Center to plan the procedures, which are usually performed in a single session (stereotactic radiosurgery) and in a series of sessions (stereotactic radiotherapy). Both stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy are usually performed as out-patient procedures.

For more information, please call 718.246.8614.