John Stoddard Cancer Center

Radiation Oncology
1221 Pleasant Street, A-100
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
p: 515-241-4330

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), initially developed in the 1990's, has been refined during recent years to treat patients with specific localized cancers who are not viable candidates for surgery. The term stereotactic refers to the ability to very precisely deliver high doses of radiation to a tumor. Because of the accuracy in delivering the radiation, the chances of killing tumor cells, while sparing healthy cells, is very high. In preparing for the treatment, detailed images of the tumor are collected.

To perform the treatment, Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and advanced X-ray is required. Using IGRT, the tumor's location is checked with a CT scan and X-ray prior to each treatment, and treatment is delivered with the Trilogy™ Linear Accelerator or the TrueBeam STx System.

This technology has been in use at John Stoddard Cancer Center since 2008 and in clinical trials has shown success in treating a range of localized tumors, including those in the lungs, brain, spine and pancreas.