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Physician Profile
Eddy C. Hsueh, M.D.
Eric J. Sutphen, M.D.
Gregory J. Bailey, M.D., Ph.D.
Michael Gu, M.D.
Peter Fonseca, M.D., Ph.D., FACS
R. William Morris, M.D., M.B.A.
William J. Moriconi, M.D.
George J. Bailey, MD, PhD (Neurosurgery) says the Trilogy Stereotactic System service at St. Anthony’s Medical Center involve treatment of specific lesions that are amenable to radiosurgery, including brain tumors both malignant and benign, vascular lesions including ateriovenous malformations, and functional neurosurgery, which would include treating trigeminal neuralgia with radiation,” he said.
“The brain is the most unforgiving organ of the body. It is very sensitive to pressure and sensitive to manipulation. Any damage to the brain is, with few exceptions, irreversible. Therefore your treatment has to be extremely exacting and providing the best outcome with the least risk and side effects.”
The Trilogy system raises the level of technology available for radiotherapy and radiosurgery in the St. Louis area, Dr. Bailey said.
“It will benefit patients because it is faster and more convenient. The exactness is about the same as other technologies, 0.3 millimeters. Then the Trilogy has the ability to irradiate areas stereotactically which were, up until now, not possible. And the quickness of the procedure is significant.
“Trilogy has multiple capabilities. It can be used not just in the inner cranial area but also the rest of the skull and spine, as well as the rest of the body. That is a significant advantage.With few exceptions, it can be done frameless. The gamma knife puts out about 160 rads a minute. The Trilogy puts out 1,000 rads, so the treatment is five times faster based on the radiation dose,” he said.
“The Trilogy is an excellent investment for the hospital. St. Anthony’s is a forward-looking institution. It is big enough to have a large selection of modalities we can use to treat our patients, yet it is small enough that they are not lost in the infrastructure. Patients enjoy the convenience.”
Dr. Bailey’s interest in neurosurgery took him to Switzerland after completion of his bachelor’s degree. He worked as a surgical assistant at the University Hospital of Zurich.
“Zurich was the mecca of neurosurgery at that time. I saw what capabilities were possible. I came to St. Louis because I met Dr. Young when I was there,” he said.
Paul H. Young, M.D., is one of Dr. Bailey’s partners in Greater St. Louis Neurological Specialists on the St. Anthony’s campus.
“The surgery and treatment of brain lesions is the most fascinating field,” Dr. Bailey said. “We have only touched the surface of what the brain is capable of and how we can change its function through various treatments, including pharmacolocy, chemistry, surgery and, of course, radiation.”
Among the goals of Dr. Bailey’s practice is sharing information on new findings with practitioners in other fields, such as internal medicine and dentistry, who may face symptoms of rare neurological diagnoses.
“One condition that is very common but sometimes missed is trigeminal neuralgia, which is a condition of an artery leaning against the nerve that provides sensation to the face and jaw. It often presents as a dental problem. I know a number of people who have had teeth removed because of this irritation of the nerve,” Dr. Bailey said.
Aneurysms and hemorrhages of the brain may initially present as headaches, back pain or other symptoms, he added.
“Somebody once said that when you hear hoofs outside your window you think of horses, not zebras. But there are zebras out there. You always need to rule out simple things first, but never forget that everyone is unique and might have a problem that is very unusual.”
For information, please call our Health Access Line at 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) or 800-554-9550 or visit our find a physician online.
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