Report: Stereotactic Radiotherapy Unproven

After reviewing 124 published studies, a federal team has concluded that there is no evidence to support the clinical use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) over other radiation therapies.

The authors of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Technical Brief on SBRT (available here) found limited research comparing the safety and efficacy of this technique with other forms of external-beam radiation therapy.

Most studies addressed tumors of the lung or thorax; fewer than 10 studies each were found for tumors of the prostate, kidney, pancreas, liver, colon, uterus, pelvis, or sacrum.

From the June 01, 2011 Issue of Renal and Urology News