Linear accelerator radiosurgery in the management of brain tumours

Radiosurgery is an increasingly popular method for treating a variety of in tracranial tumours. A great deal of treatment data has been accumulated sug gesting that radiosurgery may be the treatment of choice for small acoustic schwannomas, Moreover, radiosurgery promises excellent tumour control and minimal risk in the treatment of small meningiomas in risky surgical locati ons such as the cavernous sinus. Radiosurgery offers superior local control rates for many metastatic neoplasms and has promise as an adjuvant 'boost' technique in certain malignant gliomas. This article presents a brief desc ription of the linear accelerator, LINAC, radiosurgical technique, followed by a review of the more common applications of stereotactic radiosurgery i n the treatment of intracranial neoplastic disease.