Stereotactic radiosurgery is the very precise delivery of radiation to a brain tumor while sparing the surrounding normal brain tissue. Because it is so precise, stereotactic radiosurgery allows a higher dose of radiation to be given with more sparing of normal brain than can be achieved with conventional radiotherapy techniques.Information from MRI and/or CT scans are directly transferred to the treatment planning computer system to create a 3-D model of the tumor and surrounding normal brain. A complex radiation delivery planning system is utilized to target a high dose of radiation at the tumor while greatly limiting the dose to nearby normal brain. Special devices are used to keep the head still so that the radiation will be aimed with great accuracy at the targeted tumor.

Radiofrequency Ablation is a special needle electrode is placed in the tumor under the guidance of an imaging method such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scanning. A radiofrequency current then is passed through the electrode to heat the tumor tissue near the needle tip and ablate-or eliminate-it. The heat from radiofrequency energy also closes up small blood vessels, thereby minimizing the risk of bleeding. In general, radiofrequency ablation causes only minimal discomfort and may be done as an outpatient procedure without general anesthesia. Admission to the hospital is not usually necessary.

Protons are atoms that carry a positive charge. Just as x-rays are used to treat both benign and malignant tumors, a beam of protons can be used to radiate tumors in the same way. There is essentially no biological difference between x-ray and protons, except that protons release most of their energy when they hit the tumor and deliver no exit dose beyond the tumor boundary. Therefore, the dose of radiation conforms to the tumor better and there is less damage to healthy tissue. As a result, the treating physician (a radiation oncologist) can give an even greater dose to the tumor while minimizing unwanted side effects. This is especially important when treating children, because it reduces radiation to growing and developing tissues.