Experimental study of central and peripheral nervous system tolerance to radiation. This tolerance is important in defining therapeutic ratios. Sparing structures in and around brain tumors and arteriovenous malformations is the main goal of any therapy and the major limiting factor of radiosurgery. Appropriate protection by chemical agents and schemes of radiation fractionation are under study. Study of effects of radiation on neuronal firing of epileptic focus.
Radiation is known to affect neuronal firing.
An acute increase in firing immediately following radiation with mild doses has been confirmed in our laboratory and in clinical studies. The ideal dose of radiation that would provide long-term seizure focus control and still maintain neuronal integrity is under study in our laboratories. This study promises to identify treatment of selected forms of epilepsy that today depend on a major surgical procedure. Study of effects of miniature radiation beam in functional aspeos of basal ganglia.