(NAPSA)—Newtypesof technology have helped doctors treat brain tumors in a safer and more effective manner. An estimated 350,000 people in the U.S. have brain tumors, and many of them could benefit from the new technology. Brain tumors are the leading cause of death from childhood cancers among personsup to 19 years old; the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in males ages 20 to 39; and thefifth-leading cause of cancer-related death in women of that same age group. Brain tumors are often hard to treat becausethereis risk of damaging healthy brain tissue surrounding the tumor.“If, for example, a tumoris in the middle of the brain, surgery can presenta risk to the tissue above, next to and below it,” explains Dr. Xiang Gao, MD, Radiology Oncologist at the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTD in Little Rock, AR.Fortunately, says Dr. Gao, new medical breakthroughs are helping make tumors moreoperable. Onenewtechnology, Stereotactic Radiosurgery (also known as noninvasive shaped-beam radiosurgery), actually lets doctors perform brain surgery without makinganincision. Doctors use the non-invasive radiation treatmentto accurately pinpoint and diffuse tumors surrounded by delicate brain structures andtissue without damagingthat tissue. The result is a treatment that can New technology—Stereotactic Radiosurgery lets doctors treat tumors previously thought inoperable. be used for many conditions previously thought to be inoperable. Dr. Gao says the key to the device is its extreme accuracy. It uses X-rays and infrared technology as a guidance system thatlocalizes andspecifically targets lesions and tumors. Doctors then use the device’s high-dose photon beams to disrupt the DNA of the tumor cells, causing the cells to die, rather than reproduce. CARTI, which offers this new technology, says typical treatments last 15 to 20 minutes and that patients remain awakefor the procedure. Patients can usually return to their normal routine within hours of the surgery. For more information, visit www.carti.com.
