Five patients showed injury to the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face. One had damage to the facial nerve that controls movement of the face. Both of these nerves emerge from the brain near the point of tumor growth. The frequency of these injuries was about the same as with surgery or single-dose radiation, Golby noted. The doctors noticed no other side effects from the treatment.
Fractionation is common practice for treating other kinds of growths.
Radiation sessions for prostate cancer or breast cancer are normally spread over several weeks, for instance. Aim becomes a problem, Golby explained. Patients don't like wearing the frame for long periods of time, but removing and reattaching it can reduce the accuracy of the radiation beam. The solution Golby and colleagues adopted is a compromise between patient comfort and accuracy. Patients wear the frame throughout one 24-hour hospital stay, during which they receive painkillers and sedatives to aid sleep.