Image-guided radiosurgery

One of the goals of surgery is to be more precise – to treat the problem without causing more problems.  One new technique that is allowing doctors to do this is called image-guided radiosurgery (IGRS).  This technology is being marketed by companies such as Varian Medical Systems and Accuray.

Here’s how it works:  special imagining technology uses focused beams of radiation to target a specific area of the brain, for example.  It uses real-time x-rays to target the treatment properly.  Radiosurgery can be used to target cancer tumours.  One head-related disorder that is being treated using this new surgery is trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia causes extreme bolts of pain in the face, along the trigeminal nerve.  Although anticonvulsant medication has often been a successful treatment, in rare cases surgery is needed.  Newer techniques are allowing patients to be treated with greater precision.