Stereotactic Radiosurgery: UAB Radiosurgery Program
Stereotactic Radiosurgery: UAB Radiosurgery Program
The UAB Radiosurgery Program is one of the most experienced programs in the United States. Our goal is to offer every patient compassionate, superior care by maximizing the value of our encounter with the patient. The UAB Radiosurgical Program accomplishes this in a number of ways. First and foremost is the unique collaborative effort between surgeons and radiation oncologists who are members of UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. This unique approach provides every patient with a thoughtful and thorough evaluation of his/her situation and therapeutic options. Second is the broad array of contemporary radiosurgical technology that is available to optimally carry out the treatment plan. Finally, we follow-up with each patient and focus on outcome such that treatments can be optimized as we understand more about the value of our approach to the spectrum of disorders you’ll see in this web site.
- UAB has over 16 years of radiosurgery experience
- Nearly 200 years of radiosurgery combined experience for faculty and staff
- The largest radiosurgery program in the South East
- Thousands procedures of experience
- Unique multidisciplinary approach to patient diagnoses and treatment planning/delivery
- Multiple technology options for optimal treatment plan
- Most precise treatment method for cranial radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
Please select any of the following links to obtain more information on the different radiosurgical treatment and technologies we offer.
- Cranial Radiosurgery: Gamma Knife
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
- UAB Radiosurgery History
- Treatment Technologies
- Physician Faculty
Late 1980’s- UAB physics team designed and manufactured many of the instruments and devices needed to modify a standard linear accelerator to provide the extra precision required for radiosurgery.1992-the first patient in Alabama is treated at UAB for a primary brain tumor.
1995- a model B Gamma Knife is added to the UAB Radiosurgery Program due to expansion of this modality to treat central nervous system (CNS) cases.
1999- UAB placed the Nomos-Peacock system into operation and initiated its Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) program to provide treatment beyond the brain.
2001- a system based on a multileaf collimator (MLC) replaced the Nomos-Peacock system substantially shortening treatment delivery allowing physicians to treat tumors located near critical organs such as the spinal cord, heart, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
2004- the first Gamma Knife is replaced by a more advanced system that included automatic positioning, the Model C.
2004- UAB became the first in Alabama and only 14th in the world to acquire TomoTherapy, the first clinically viable CT-based image guidance platform for radiation therapy improving SBRT treatment delivery
2005- First in Alabama to treat with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).
2008- UAB became the first institution in the US to treat patients with the newly developed Volumetric Arc Therapy (RapidArc) shortening radiosurgery treatment time.
2010- UAB was the fourth center in the world to acquire TrueBeam STX, the most advanced radiosurgery technology available.
Radiosurgery Treatment Technologies
- Leksell Gamma Knife
The Leksell Gamma Knife is used for cranial radiosurgery procedures. It allows UAB specialists to treat brain tumors, some vascular malformations, and other functional brain disorders without an incision and without damaging healthy tissue. - Varian iX Linac
The Varian iX is used for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). It is equipped with RapidArc at the facility. This highly advanced therapy delivers high-energy beams precisely to the tumor targets throughout the body. - Hi-Art TomoTherapy
TomoTherpay is used for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). This technology delivers high-energy beams precisely to the tumor targets throughout the body. - True Beam
This summer, UAB is now treating cancer patients with the TrueBeam STx, the most advanced radiosurgery technology available. By combining imaging with patient motion management, this system controls how the treatment is delivered, increasing accuracy and efficacy. Because the TrueBeam STx provides the highest radiation dose available, patients experience a complete radiosurgery treatment in minutes, rather than hours. With this technology, an experienced team of UAB radiation oncologists, surgeons and medical physicists can design the optimal treatment plan for each patient.
Physicians
UAB has a unique approach to the determination of the optimal plan for each individual patient. A team of subspecialists from multiple disciplines, radiation oncology, surgery, medical oncology, GYN oncology, radiology, and pathology, evaluate multiple parameters related to an individual patients’ cancer and derive a treatment plan based on the most current literature. If radiosurgery is indicated, the patient will be referred to the UAB Radiosurgery Program. Relying on their 15 years of experience treating patients with complicated tumors, the physicians will design a patient specific plan and implement it with the most advanced technology available.
This program, as part of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, has successfully integrated sub-specialized faculty and staff from both the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Department of Surgery. This structure allows further innovations, revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of patients with complicated cancer processes. Tumors that were untreatable just a few years ago can now be treated successfully with SRS or SBRT.
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