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A Novel Approach for Treatment of Uterine Fibroids: Stereotactic Radiosurgery as a Proposed Treatment Modality

  • Uterine Fibroids and Endometrial Lesions (T. Tulandi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Minimally invasive therapeutic interventions and the field of stereotactic radiosurgery have advanced enormously in recent years. We briefly review the field of stereotactic radiosurgery and propose its use as a novel treatment modality for benign gynecologic conditions such as uterine fibroids.

Recent Findings

Computerized searches of Medline and PubMed were conducted using the key words “stereotactic radiosurgery,” “CyberKnife®,” “uterine fibroids,” and “radiation therapy.” References from identified sources were manually searched to allow for a thorough review. Data from relevant sources was compiled to create this review article.

Summary

Stereotactic techniques have not only significantly reshaped the field of neurosurgery from open to noninvasive treatment, but also has impacted the field of radiation oncology by improving precision and reducing radiation exposure of normal tissues. Stereotactic radiation has proven to be a safe and effective method for the treatment of both benign and malignant conditions. Over the past two decades, new technologies have expanded the application of stereotactic radiosurgery to include spinal, renal, cardiac, lung, liver, prostate, and gynecologic cancers, and very recently even for the treatment of some non-neoplastic conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias. With success in so many disciplines, it is proposed that stereotactic radiosurgery may be a promising tool for the treatment of benign gynecologic conditions. Additional clinical experience is needed to further define the safety and efficacy of this proposed new treatment paradigm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Special Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, Camran Nezhat Institute, 900 Welch Rd. Suite 403, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Camran Nezhat, Nataliya Vang, Mailinh Vu, Jayne Skinner, Kelly Robinson, Komal Saini, Anuj Vaid & Laura Maule

  2. Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA

    Camran Nezhat, Nataliya Vang, Mailinh Vu, John R. Adler & Iris C. Gibbs

  3. School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Camran Nezhat

  4. Medicines360, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Jessica Grossman

  5. Harvard Medical School, Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Joanne W. Jang

Authors
  1. Camran Nezhat
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Correspondence to Camran Nezhat.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Disclosure

Dr. Gibb’s have received honoraria for lectures in the past 12 months from Accuray, Inc., the manufacturer of the Cyberknife.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Uterine Fibroids and Endometrial Lesions

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Nezhat, C., Vang, N., Vu, M. et al. A Novel Approach for Treatment of Uterine Fibroids: Stereotactic Radiosurgery as a Proposed Treatment Modality. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep 9, 1–6 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-020-00277-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-020-00277-x

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