Abstract:

Swedish neurosurgeon Lars Leksell, frustrated by the invasiveness of existing surgical tools and the morbidity some neurosurgical patients endured, created the field of stereotactic radiosurgery in 1951. He subsequently pioneered the development of the dedicated multi-source Cobalt 60 Gamma Knife®. During the 27 year interval from its first clinical use in 1967 to its latest application in 1994, single fraction, closed skull irradiation of deep intracranial targets has been performed in more than 20,000patients worldwide. The goals of radiosurgery are obliteration or prevention of further growth of the target coupled with reduced patient risk in comparison to more invasive procedures.

Authors:

Richard K. Spence, M.D., Umur Atabek, M.D., Cooper Hospital/UMC, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, NJ

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