• Neurosciences Institute
• Procedures and Treatments
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)

John Muir Health offers the following neurosciences services:

Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Innovative technology offering non-invasive treatment options

John Muir Health has consistently been on the leading edge of new technologies and advances in health care. John Muir Health offers Novalis® Shaped Beam Surgery™ - a non-surgical, outpatient treatment being used for a variety of cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the brain, spine and vital organs throughout the body. This system is located in the Radiosurgery Center at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus - the only site in Northern California to offer Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery.

The field of radiotherapy is evolving rapidly as recent advances in technology have promised improved outcomes. A revolutionary new treatment, Shaped Beam Surgery from Novalis, is now being used with remarkable results. Novalis is a state-of-the-art treatment system for patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT).

With Novalis, the radiation beams are shaped to match the exact contour of the tumor or lesion so that even irregularly shaped tumors or lesions can receive appropriate doses of radiation.

During treatment, Novalis steadily moves around the patient's body so that the radiation penetrates the tumor or lesion from different angles. While the target receives the full dose of radiation, the surrounding healthy tissue only receives a small percentage of the radiation, reducing potential damage to delicate structures such as the brainstem or spinal cord. This type of treatment is virtually painless and does not typically require anesthesia. In addition, there is no scarring, disfigurement or risk of infection.

According to Terence Chen, M.D., medical director of Neurosurgery at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus, "Novalis offers the most advanced treatment available anywhere today. This technology allows us to treat tumors and other disease entities that were previously inoperable. We are fortunate to be able to offer this technology to our patients."

SRS and SRT: How these treatments work

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is the non-invasive delivery of a precise, single dose of high-energy radiation to a tumor. Although it is called surgery, there is actually no incision and it is often performed on an outpatient basis, eliminating the complications and substantial recovery time associated with traditional surgery.

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) delivers radiation in small, divided doses over a number of sessions. This method of delivery limits normal tissue damage while maximizing treatment effectiveness to abnormal cells. This is particularly valuable in treating conditions where the abnormal cells are close to, or within functionally important areas of the body such as the spinal cord, optic nerve or brain stem.

Types of conditions treated with Novalis

Depending on an individual's particular case, Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery may be a suitable treatment option. Within John Muir Health it is currently being used to treat a wide range of cancers, tumors and other functional conditions including brain tumors, pituitary tumors, brain metastases, arteriovenous malformations/gliomas, acoustic neuromas, cavernous angiomas, recurrent brain tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, primary liver tumors and metastatic cancers of the lung, liver, breast, prostate and colon.

"Our elegant technology optimizes care and cure while minimizing the side effects and complications when compared with previous treatments," says Vincent Massullo, M.D., medical director, Radiation Therapy for John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus.

For more information about the Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery system, please call The Radiosurgery Center at (925) 941-2050 or (866) 941-2050 or www.brainlab.com.

Download:

Novalis Brochure (900 KB pdf file)
The Radiosurgery Center at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus



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