The morning of the planned treatment, the patient has a lightweight aluminum frame or ring affixed to the head. Frame fixation is performed under local anesthesia, and is well-tolerated. Patients feel minimal pain and no hair is shaved from the head. The frame remains in place until the patient is released later in the day. After frame placement, patients undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computed Tomography scanning to determine the exact location of the abnormality to be treated.
Patients being treated for vascular abnormalities undergo an angiogram.
Once all appropriate scanning is completed, patients are free to join their family or friends and relax while treatment is planned. Treatment planning is a very complex process involving the specialists in neurological surgery, radiation oncology and medical physics. These specialists plan the treatment using sophisticated computers to outline the target volume. The treatment volume is tailored specifically to the lesion. Planning generally takes one to two hours, depending on the lesion and the number of doses needed to treat the lesion.