Stereotactic body radiotherapy – current indications

SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy) is a method of treating localized tumor lesions by applying high doses of radiation in a small number of fractions using specially equipped linear accelerators, modern immobilization devices and imaging methods. These are special, advanced, techniques of up-to-date radiotherapy. SBRT is the very well tolerated, non-invasive, short-term treatment that does not require hospitalization or any complicated preparation. Compared to standard radiotherapy techniques, SBRT allows, due to its precision, to apply significantly higher doses to the target with less damage of surrounding healthy tissues. If dose constrains are not exceeded, the risk of damage of healthy tissues and organs around the irradiated volume is reduced to minimum. The principle of SBRT is the application of "ablative" doses of radiation that causes necrosis of the irradiated tissue. Instead of many different stereotactic systems being used, this principle is always identical. In the treatment of primary lung or prostate tumors, SBRT has a curative potential. High-dose irradiation of oligometastases of various primary tumors can lead to long-term survival without symptoms of the disease, or can delay administration of toxic systemic therapy and helps to improve the quality of life of oncological patients. The aim of this review is to provide the reader with a basic overview of SBRT indications, radiation doses used and potential side effects, not a detailed description of the practical aspects of preparation of radiation plans or a description of the treatment itself (such as discussion of patient fixation systems, management of respiratory movements, or image guided strategy of treatment). This review also discusses rarer indications for SBRT, such as pancreatic carcinoma or hepatocellular carcinoma.