Fairfax, Va., October 12, 2011 - The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has published a white ?per jn¾Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO), ASTRO's clinical practice journal. The full text of the document is available in advance of print online at www.practicalradonc.org.

SRS and SBRT are both types of stereotactic radiation therapy, a specialized type of external beam radiation therapy that uses focused radiation beams to target a well-defined tumor and relies on detailed imaging, computerized 3-D treatment planning and precise treatment set-up to deliver the radiation dose with extreme accuracy.

SRS has been used for decades to treat brain metastases and other cranial tumors and disorders and has been well established as an effective treatment with a high rate of local control and improved survival rates. SBRT is a newer treatment modality and recent single and multi-institution trials have shown similar high rates of tumor control and low incidence of toxicity with SBRT despite the higher dose of radiation used.

Because very high doses of radiation are delivered with these modalities, the margin of error is much smaller than conventional radiation and special attention is required. The white paper addresses this by outlining personnel considerations, technical considerations, and acceptance testing and commissioning. The authors recommend a team-based approach using properly trained and credentialed specialists and requiring SRS and SBRT training during radiation oncology residency and accredited clinical medical physics training.

"Patient safety in radiation therapy is everyone's responsibility," Timothy Solberg, PhD, lead author of the white paper and a professor of radiation oncology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said. "Professional organizations, regulators, vendors and end-users must demonstrate a clear commitment to working closely together to ensure the highest levels of safety and efficacy in stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy."

For more information on Target Safely, visit www.astro.org/TargetSafely.

For more information on stereotactic radiation, visit www.rtanswers.org.

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through Nýwcatno4k)clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on radiation therapy, visit www.rtanswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org.

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