Stereotactic Radiation
Therapy

Closely related to stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic radiation therapy consists of multiple doses of focused radiation on the abnormal tissue of a tumor. This type of radiation therapy is generally applied to areas around the head and neck, as opposed to stereotactic body radiation therapy, which is applied to other areas of the body. Stereotactic radiation therapy is delivered over the course of several days or even weeks.

 

This form of radiation therapy is commonly used at Houston Methodist when a tumor is near an anatomic structure that is especially sensitive to high doses of radiation. In any radiation therapy technique, a small area of healthy cells around the tumor, known as the margin, receives some degree of radiation. Each time a cell receives radiation, the cell is damaged. Healthy cells, however, are far better equipped to repair this damage than the abnormal tumor cells.

 

Stereotactic radiation therapy treatment uses less radiation and is spread out over a longer duration than other forms of radiation therapy. This approach delivers adequate doses of radiation to destroy tumor cells, while allowing the healthy cells time to repair.

 

Multidisciplinary collaboration within the Department of Radiation Oncology and with other institutions results in scientific research that is the basis of the outstanding clinical care we provide. In addition, our standard of care is routinely assessed and updated to ensure that we continue to offer the most effective services  for our patients.

Learn more about the variety of innovative radiation therapies offered at Houston Methodist.