Cyberknife

Understanding CyberKnife Radiosurgery:

CyberKnife radiosurgery is a non-invasive treatment that uses highly focused beams of radiation to treat tumors and other medical conditions, such as benign tumours, brain lesions, and spinal abnormalities. Despite its name, CyberKnife is not a surgical knife, but rather a robotic radiotherapy system used by Radiation Oncologists, which delivers precise radiation directly to the target area.

Unlike traditional surgery, which involves cutting into the body, CyberKnife uses radiation to shrink or destroy tumors, making it an ideal option for patients who cannot undergo surgery or prefer a non-invasive treatment. However, it should be given only by experienced radiation oncologists who have undergone training in high precision radiosurgery procedures.

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How Does CyberKnife Work?

The CyberKnife system consists of two main components:
  • Robotic Arm: The robotic arm moves around the patient, delivering precisely targeted radiation from multiple angles. This allows for extremely accurate treatment that can focus on tumors, even those located in hard-to-reach areas.
  • Imaging: Throughout the procedure, the CyberKnife system uses Real-time Imaging and artificial intelligence algorithms to track the tumor’s exact location and adjust the radiation delivery as needed. This ensures that healthy tissue surrounding the tumor is spared from unnecessary radiation.

What sets CyberKnife apart is its ability to treat tumors with incredible precision that are moving or in difficult locations, such as the brain, spine, prostate lungs, liver etc. and can give comparable results to surgery.

 

Why Choose CyberKnife Radiosurgery?

  • Non-invasive: CyberKnife does not require any incisions or recovery time. This means fewer risks of infection, blood loss and a quicker recovery.
  • No Need for Anesthesia
  • Extremely precise: targets only tumors with very little damage to healthy surrounding tissue.
  • Fewer Treatments: Many patients only need one to five treatments to effectively treat their tumor, compared to weeks of daily radiation therapy.
  • Proven effective for various conditions: CyberKnife is not only used for cancer treatment but also for benign tumors, vascular malformations, and functional disorders like trigeminal neuralgia etc.

What to Expect During CyberKnife Treatment?

  • Preparation: Before the procedure, your Radiation Oncologist may perform imaging scans (PET/CT or MRI) to determine the precise location and size of the tumor. You may also be asked to wear a special mask or body frame to help you remain still during the procedure.
  • Treatment Session: The treatment itself is usually painless and takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the tumor's location and size.
  • Follow-up: After the treatment, you may be able to resume your normal activities almost immediately. Side effects are mild and typically go away quickly.
  • Monitoring: Your Radiation Oncologist will closely monitor your progress through regular follow-up appointments, including bloods, imaging etc. It may take several weeks to months to see the full effects of the treatment.

Who Can Benefit from CyberKnife Radiosurgery?

  • Brain tumors (both cancerous and benign)
  • Spinal tumors
  • Lung cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Pancreatic tumors
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Arteriovenous malformations (abnormal blood vessels)

It is especially beneficial for patients who cannot undergo traditional surgery due to their health condition, age, or the location of the tumor and also after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells.

Is CyberKnife Safe?

Because Cyberknife is non-invasive and uses high-precision radiation, it generally has fewer side effects compared to traditional radiation therapy or surgery.

However, there can be mild side effects like:

  • Fatigue
  • Skin irritation in the treated area
  • Mild headache or nausea (for brain treatments)
  • Swelling or pain at the tumor site (rare)
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