Stereotactic radiosurgery for pediatric brain tumors and arteriovenous malformations

Abstract

Alongside the well-documented application of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in adults, its utilization in pediatric care has garnered increasing attention in recent years. SRS targets specific areas with great precision by employing multiple convergent beams of high-energy X-rays, gamma rays, or protons. This technique offers the advantage of highly conformal radiation delivery, characterized by a rapid dose reduction that effectively spares adjacent healthy tissues. Given these beneficial dosimetric characteristics, SRS may have an essential role in managing unresectable, residual, or recurrent tumors in children. As pediatric SRS varies from adult SRS in several essential respects, such as immobilization and anesthesia, appropriate patient selection is crucial. While existing data have shed valuable light on the efficacy of SRS in pediatric patients, comprehensive, prospective multi-institutional studies are required to further elucidate its role across pediatric patient populations.