Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Cranial irradiation to treat brain cancers often has long-term negative neurocognitive effects, including lowered IQ, learning difficulties and memory loss, especially in the pediatric population. Fen Xia, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues have reported that these effects may be due to radiation-induced damage to the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory. They previously [...]

The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has recently opened a new suite for “stereotactic radiosurgery,” which uses the latest generation in radiation therapy technology.

Drs. Fen Xia and Anthony Cmelak observe as a patient is positioned for stereotactic radiosurgery for her tumor. This system, called Novalis TX, offers precision to the millimeter — about the width of a fingernail.