Stereotaxy – precision thanks to image-guided support

Highly accurate radiation requires precise information on tumor location – stereotaxy enables visual control

The stereotaxy concept refers to all medical processes that enable a precise localization control through an image-guided and computer-assisted process. The image guided processes include X-rays, Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These processes are used mostly in stereotactic radiotherapy, radiosurgery and for stereotactic brain surgery in neurosurgery.

Stereotaxy is used to spare healthy tissues and to make the radiation efficient

The aim of stereotaxy is to eliminate as much cancer cells as possible with limited side effects. Traditional radiotherapy requires the position of the patient to be checked prior to radiation. The position of the tumor can change during the healing process – and the whole body can change as a result of weight variations, strengthened or weakened muscles and the consequences of therapy. Stereotaxy is part of the usual steps for positioning and immobilizing the patient on the radiation surface, during which the position of the tumor is checked using an imaging method. Bones or tiny golden markers, whose position is adjusted using a special software for radiation planing, are used as the body’s coordinates. The computer checks the actual and the desired status and makes sure through stereotaxy that the radiation dose is applied to precisely where it is needed. Stereotaxy is connected to special linear accelerators that are more accurate than traditional systems.

Stereotaxy is based, apart from the linear accelerator and the imaging method, on a modern radiation surface that also records and saves the patient’s data in a reproducible way and allows a multitude of radiation angles through its six degrees of freedom. The Radiotherapy Patient System RPS combines all the benefits of a modern treatment platform. For more information on RPS, please contact us. Send us an email to info@gkteso.de.