Image Guided Fiducial Placement for Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Author Information
Author(s): Mallarajapatna Govindarajan, Janardan Susheela, Sridhar Papaiah Kallur, Kumar Gangadharaiah Ramanna Nagaraj, Kanakapura Ramachandra Prashant Guthlu, Sudhakar Shivalingappa Shivakumar Swamy
Primary Institution: Health Care Global - Bangalore Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, India
Hypothesis
Internal gold fiducials are necessary for tracking the movements of target lesions during stereotactic radiosurgery.
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that image-guided fiducial placement is generally safe and effective for stereotactic radiosurgery.
Supporting Evidence
- Fiducials are made of 99% gold and can be visualized radiographically.
- Three or more fiducials were tracked in most patients.
- Migration of fiducials occurred in a minority of patients but generally did not result in loss.
- Complications included pneumothorax and hemothorax, but no major complications were reported.
Takeaway
Doctors use tiny gold markers to help them target tumors accurately during radiation treatment, and this study shows how they do it safely.
Methodology
The study involved placing gold fiducials under image guidance in 122 patients for stereotactic radiosurgery.
Limitations
Migration of fiducials can occur, which may complicate tracking.
Participant Demographics
Patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery for various malignant conditions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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