What is Radiosurgery?

Everyone knows what surgery is, and most understand the use of radiation treatment for cancer, but few understand the newer technique of radiosurgery.

Radiosurgery is a noninvasive treatment, where doctors use advanced technology to deliver a precise dose of radiation to a cancerous tumor – without having to cut into the body. Radiosurgery destroys the targeted area without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.  

“The technology allows us to track the patient’s position in real time – so we can be sure we’re hitting the target every single time,” said Pauling Chang, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF).

PAMF is an early adopter of innovative technology – and was the first health care organization in the world to offer this new, precise, radiosurgery technology as part of its comprehensive Cancer Care Program.

You can learn more about radiosurgery and take a virtual tour with Dr. Chang in a video on Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s health blog.