Linear accelerator and Greitz-Bergstrom's head fixation system in radiosurgery of single cerebral metastases.  A report of 86 cases. 
Between 1984 and 1991 86 patients with single cerebral metastases underwent linear accelerator radiosurgery using the atraumatic and reproducible Greitz-Bergström head-fixation device.  Routine one-month follow-up documented disappearance of the tumour in 16 patients, with resolution of the oedema and ventricular shift.  Shrinkage of the metastasis occurred in 51 patients.  In 9 patients the tumour remained stable, in 7 there was progression of tumour size.  Among the patients showing shrinkage of the tumour or unchanged tumour volume, repeated radiosurgery resulted in disappearance of the metastasis in 5 and further shrinkage in 28.  In 14 patients routine stereotactic CT follow-up study led to the detection of a new metastasis, again treated with excellent results.  Local recurrence occurred in 2 patients and radiation necrosis in the target area in 5 patients.  Radiosurgery thus proves to be an appropriate alternative to surgery.  The versatility of our non-invasive and painless method permits CT staging (which we consider essential) without hospitalization of the patient.