Stereotactic radiosurgery. Present status and future trends.

Stereotactic radiosurgery was introduced by Lars Leksell in 1951, as a means of treating a variety of intracranial pathologies without opening the skull. Since 1968 the radiosurgical procedures have been performed in the Leksell Gamma Unit. The number of conditions amenable to this treatment modality has constantly increased and today about 1500 patients have been treated in Stockholm. The radiosurgical technique, some of the indications for radiosurgery as well as the clinical results are reviewed.