CPT® Code 77372

Radiation treatment delivery, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), complete course of treatment of cranial lesion(s) consisting of 1 session; linear accelerator based

A complete course of radiation treatment is delivered to cranial lesion(s) in a single session using linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This advanced technique does not involve the physical removal of the tumor; instead, it employs a focused external beam of radiation similar to conventional radiotherapy. The primary goal of SRS is to disrupt the DNA of tumor cells, thereby impairing their ability to reproduce and grow. The procedure is characterized by the delivery of highly concentrated radiation beams that are precisely targeted to a specific area of the brain or neck, all within one day, which is why it is referred to as radiosurgery. The term 'surgery' is used here due to the significant and immediate effects that the treatment has on the targeted tissue. To achieve the utmost precision, computer-aided planning is utilized to determine the exact three-dimensional coordinates of the lesion. During the procedure, the patient is immobilized using skeletal fixation devices that restrict head movement entirely, which is crucial for ensuring that the radiation is delivered accurately while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. This immobilization technique confines the application of radiosurgery primarily to the head and neck regions. Linear accelerator-based radiosurgery is one of the three primary technologies available for SRS. The linear accelerator (linac) system operates by utilizing a single, powerful beam of radiation that moves throughout the treatment session, redirecting the beam in multiple arcs. This movement helps to reduce the potential adverse effects on healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. While this method is particularly effective for larger tumors, it can also be adapted for use in other areas of the body. Furthermore, linear accelerator machines are capable of administering fractionated therapy over several days for different body regions, in addition to providing the one-session radiosurgical treatment for cranial lesions, which is specifically reported with this code.