Radiosurgery Program

Directors: Oren Sagher, M.D. and B. Gregory Thompson, M.D.

Radiosurgery is a non-invasive therapy used to treat small brain and spine tumors, blood vessel malformations, and occasionally certain painful conditions or movement disorders. Radiosurgery employs highly focused radiation which affects precisely targeted tissues while sparing surrounding structures. The program team includes neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, and radiation physicists. The University of Michigan performs radiosurgery using a linear accelerator (LINAC). Unique computer programs control the precise position of the radiation during treatment. The Radiosurgery Program in the Department of Neurosurgery treats diseases of both the brain and the spine. As neurosurgeons in the program at the University of Michigan have expertise in both radiosurgery and open surgery, significant emphasis is placed upon choosing the optimal therapeutic strategy for each patient. Radiosurgery is most often performed on an outpatient basis. Generally, the entire procedure is completed in 8 or 9 hours. The actual radiation treatment is less than one hour. Most patients may resume normal activities the next day.