Dr. Lyons and Dr. Bommarito were among the first veterinary radiation oncologists to treat animals with stereotactic radiation therapy. Stereotactic radiation therapy, also known as SRT, uses focused radiation beams to target well-defined tumors with unprecedented precision. SRS (stereotactic radiosurgery) is used to treat the brain and spine, and SBRT (stereotactic body radiation therapy) is used to treat structures other than the brain and spine. Because of the accuracy of the treatment, normal surrounding tissue is mostly spared, minimizing damage to healthy areas and decreasing side effects. SRT is used to treat tumors that would otherwise be considered inoperable or untreatable through traditional radiation therapy. It can be used to treat brain, nasal, and prostate tumors, mast cell tumors, osteosarcomas, and any tumors located near vital organs, which would otherwise be difficult to treat.
The entire radiation dose can be delivered in two or three sessions lasting less than 15 minutes each, greatly reducing the number of times a patient must undergo anesthesia. Treatment is usually completed within one week, resulting in 85-90% fewer treatments than is required with traditional radiation therapy, while providing increased efficiency and convenience.