Our group has experience with many more unusual tumors such as craniopharyngiomas, chordomas, hemangioblastomas, oligodendrogliomas, ependymomas, glomus tumors, medulloblastomas and many others. For each patient, a custom-fitted head frame is constructed by our skilled staff. This takes approximately one hour. The next step is imaging studies using the non-invasive head frame as a frame of reference. Because treatment is totally non-invasive, patients maintain their normal function throughout this process.
Patients are completely awake and alert throughout the entire painless procedure.
Furthermore with fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery there is, in general, the avoidance of any hospitalization. It is for this reason and the strong voices from successfully treated patients that enthusiasm has been stimulated globally for the fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery approach at Staten Island University Hospital. Many times, previously treated patients are our most ardent supporters - passing on to friends and family a new treatment option tip. Every week our physicians review submitted cases from the around the world for consideration of fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery. We attempt to make the best decision based upon most effective and least invasive techniques available.