Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Cranial Lesions Flashcards
stereotaxy
- refers to the 3D localisation of a particular point in space by a unique set of coordinates that relate to a fixed, external frame
- a Cartesian (x,y,z) co-ordinate system can then reference any point in the body
history of CNS stereotaxy
- 1949 Dr. Lars Leksell, Sweden
- Inaccessible intracranial target
- larger number small stationary fields
- 1950: ‘Gamma knife’
SRS and SRT
SRS:
- singe fraction treatment: doses of 12-30Gy: CNS tumours
SRT:
- fractionate: useful if the lesion is extremely close to critical structures in the CNS or for extracranial sites
Goal of Stereotactic Irradiation
- conform therapeutic dose to 3D target
- deliver large doses of radiation in fewer fractions
- fusion of excellent immobilisation, imaging and precise treatment delivery techniques in order to.
Indications for SRS
- malignant & benign lesions
- generally <3-4cm max diameter
- potential to respond to single, large dose
- ideally spherical in shape = one isocentre
Gliomas - grade 3 and 4
- no evidence to suggest that SRS has a benefit over 3DCRT/wbrt
- techniques in either newly-diagnosed or recurrent lesions (RTOG93-05)
brain metastases
- brain mets are the most common malignant lesion treated with SRS
- brain mets are ideal targets for SRS, as they are generally small, spherical in shape and are radiographically demarcated
- SRS over WBRT considered in those patients with limited brain metastases for improved cognitive function (but remember for intracranial control)
- ISRS guidelines define this as 1-4 metastases
- dose and fractionation varies depending on the volume of the tumour (region of 16-30Gy)
Chao et al (2018)
Ballangrud, Ase et al (2018)
benign CNS lesions
- Arterio-Venous Malformations (AVM)
- Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuromas)
- Meningioma
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
Frame Based SRS
Head frame attachment
- invasive
- resource intense treatment (MDT)
- time constraints between scan and treatment (1 day procedure)
- Frame is then attached to the table top
- Frame offers immobilisation not positioning
need to establish spatial relationship between ring and target
- Optical Guidance Platform (OPG) system
- single infrared camera
- infra-red emitter or reflector: localisation
Brown Robert Wells System
Procedure
- attached by neurosurgeon/RO
- anchored to scalp through 4 posts
- 2 above supraorbital ridge
- 2 above occipital proturbance
- plastic & aluminium set pins
- local anaesthetic only
- planning CT
- planning
- plan checks
- treatment delivery
- frame removed
frame-less SRT or SRT
- reinformed thermoplastic masks
- biteblock / mouthbite (upper dentition mould) + mask
- open face mask
biteblock systems
external coordinate system attached to the mouthbite/upper teeth +/- vacuum pump
construction and use of bite block
- importance of viewing bite block immobilisation as a whole system
- importance of patient position
- construction of the head rest/thermoplastic mask
-> forehead and bridge of nose well fixed
-> posterior mask conformity to neck curvature to avoid head tilts
-> extra strip of thermoplastic applied across the bridge of nose, underneath the anterior mask can reduce head rotations - selection of mouthpiece size and fit with teeth
- correct introduction of the putty compound into the mouthpiece
- vacuum / saliva stopper - not always used
- patient compliance
-> patient education and support
-> RT assessment of patient - repositioning of patient for SRS
biteblock systems
- mask providing positioning & mouthbite providing localisation
- mouthbite providing positioning and localisation
accuracy of bite block systems
- performance of a bite block fixation system for SRS can be defined in terms of the accuracy with which the system can be placed at the treatment unit isocentre and the accuracy with which the patient can be placed in the stereotactic space (Kumar et al., 2005)
- need to test the reliability of the attachment to the upper teeth if localising to a mouthbite
- alternatively bite block can add to positioning stability in a mask
- (Masi et al, 2008)
-> found thermoplastic masks and a bite block to result in fewer set up errors than mask alone in 57 patients with SRT for brain metastases
-> for a single fraction, the set-up correction was 2.7 +/- 1.4mm and was 3.2 +/- 1.4mm for SRT - (Van Santvoort et al., 2008)
-> adapted a mask system to incorporate a vacuum mouthpiece (VM)
-> analysed accuracy of 20 patients with mask and upper jaw support (UJS) and 20 with mask and VM
-> found the initial and verification positioning accuracy to be increased as well as the intrafraction stability (initial set-up accuracy of 2.1 +/- 1.2mm for UJS and 1.7+/- 0.7mm for VM)
disadvantages of bite block
- edentulous patients (patients with no teeth)
- claustrophobic patients
- breathing difficulties
- poor construction of bite block
- misalignment: incorrect positioning of bite block. specialist team of RTs