A SYSTEM FOR STEREOTAXIC IRRADIATION AND MAGNETIC-RESONANCE EVALUATIONS IN THE RAT-BRAIN

Purpose: A stereotactic fixation and localization device developed for small animal stereotactic radiosurgery is described. Methods and Materials: Irradiated volumes of spherical shape down to 1.7 mm in diameter at the 80% isodose level are attainable, The fixation device can also be used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and allows target localization during magnetic resonance (MR) image content measurement, The capabilities of the entire system were investigated using a phantom that permitted measurement and localization of the three-dimensional dose distribution. Localization of target isocenter coordinates in MR images was also checked with the phantom. Results: An overall spatial error of about 1 mm for subsequent stereotactic irradiation was obtained. Conclusions: The accuracy of the fixation and localization techniques is adequate to investigate radiation-induced changes in the rat brain.