My surgeon has recommended focused radiation treatment (stereotactic radiosurgery, Gamma Knife, proton beam) for my childs tumor; is this a reasonable recommendation?
For some patients, these highly focused, destructive radiation techniques are a useful method to treat areas of tumor that cannot be successfully removed. Because these radiation modalities destroy all tissue within the their treatment volume, the technique can be used only for small tumor areas that are not touching structures whose function would be harmed by this type of radiation. For example, if the tumor is near or touching the brain stem or optic nerves, these treatments are often not safe to use. Prior radiotherapy also will affect radiation dose that can be used.
