Radiosurgery for high grade gliomas

In the past decade, substantial advances have been made in the fields of neurological surgery and neuro-oncology. Unfortunately, the prognosis for patients with high grade gliomas and glioblastoma multi-forme (GBM) has changed very little with the majority of patients dying within months of diagnosis. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a neurosurgical modality which allows targeted treatment of residual or recurrent tumors while limiting injury to the normal brain from radiation-associated toxicity. Current reports in the literature vary as to the local tumor control rates and enhancement of life expectancy afforded high grade glioma patients with stereotactic radiosurgery. Some high grade glioma patients appear to benefit from the addition of Stereotactic radiosurgery to existing microsurgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy treatments.