BRAIN METASTASIS

In many patients with brain metastases, the primary therapeutic aim is symptom palliation and maintenance of neurologic function, but in a subgroup, long-term survival is possible. Local control in the brain, and absent or controlled extracranial sites of disease are prerequisites for favorable survival. 

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a focal, highly precise treatment option with a long track record. Its clinical development and implementation by several pioneering institutions eventually rendered possible cooperative group randomized trials. A systematic review of those studies and other landmark studies was undertaken. 

Most clinicians are aware of the potential benefits of SRS such as a short treatment time, a high probability of treated-lesion control and, when adhering to typical dose/volume recommendations, a low normal tissue complication probability. 

However, SRS as sole first-line treatment carries a risk of failure in non-treated brain regions, which has resulted in controversy around when to add whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). SRS might also be prescribed as salvage treatment in patients relapsing despite previous SRS and/or WBRT. An optimal balance between intracranial control and side effects requires continued research efforts.

To know more about cyberknife kindly blog your comments or you can write to me at lakshmipriya_b@apollohospitals.com or call 9940675877

choroidal haemangioma (eye lesion)

Master ShreeVaishnav – Kerala, India 
Radiation therapy is one of the most important tools to combat cancer. However, conventional radiation therapy is long course (usually 6 to 7 weeks) treatment and may have severe acute side effects including skin and mucosal reactions, diarrhea, feeding difficulties and others. Higher dose radiation is also not possible to deliver due to limitations related to toxicities. CyberKnife is a precise radiation therapy technique by which high dose radiation therapy can be delivered only to the tumor and minimal dose to the normal structures. CyberKnife treatment is a short course treatment (usually only one to 5 days) and have no or minimal side effects. Many tumors which are ‘resistant’ to conventional radiation are ‘sensitive’ to high dose radiation delivered by CyberKnife. “CyberKnife has unique system that it can track moving tumors and treat them with immaculate accuracy”. Tumors in moving organs such as lung and liver can be treated most effectively CyberKnife. Dr Debnarayan Dutta, Consultant in Radiation Oncology at Apollo Speciality Hospital, Chennai commented “there are few tumors which were thought to be not treatable are now being treated successfully with CyberKnife”.

Master ShreeVaishnav, a 6 year old boy from Kerala suffering with choroidal haemangioma (eye lesion) had vision loss in both the eyes, he was referred from Sankar Netralaya for treatment. He was treated with CyberKnife and at 2 months follow up evaluation his vision had dramatically improved. “We are thankful to Dr Dutta for giving vision back to my son” told ShreeVaishnav’s father who was elated about CyberKnife. “CyberKnife has opened a modern and effective option for these diseases and we are happy with the result” said Dr Prativa Mishra, eye specialist involved in ShreeVaishnav’s treatment.

CyberKnife is a revolution in cancer treatment; it provides effective, short course, minimal toxic and high dose treatment in brain, lung, liver, pancreas, prostate, head and neck and many other tumors.

To know more about cyberknife kindly blog your comments or you can write to me atlakshmipriya_b@apollohospitals.com or call 9940675877

A CASE OF LUNG CANCER WITH BRAIN METASTASES.

LUNG CANCER WITH BRAIN METASTASES.

This  44 year old lady presented with mass in the lung. She was evaluated and was found to have three metastatic lesions in the brain. She had a well preserved general condition. The lung lesion and the brain lesions were treated with Cyber Knife. She had a good response. Even after one year she is in good health and is on follow up.  

The patient was under treatment with Dr.Rathna Devi, Senior consultant Radiation oncology.

Please feel free to blog back your comments or for other queries please write to lakshmipriya_b@apollohospitals.com, or you can reach me @9940675877