The first ever non-invasive frameless stereotactic radiosurgery system that is specifically designed for treating tumors located at different parts of the body such as spine, prostate, pancreas, liver, brain and lungs, is known as Cyberknife. This system eliminates the requirement of the invasive frame for intracranial lesions.
What is Cyberknife?
The first ever non-invasive frameless stereotactic radiosurgery system that is specifically designed for treating tumors located at different parts of the body such as spine, prostate, pancreas, liver, brain and lungs, is known as Cyberknife. This system eliminates the requirement of the invasive frame for intracranial lesions. The radiation beams delivered by a Cyberknife system can be given from any angle and are concentrated on the tumor that also causes minimum damage to nearby healthy organs and significant structures such as the optic nerve or spinal cord.
What are the Different Conditions Treated by CyberKnife?
- Skeletal Metastasis
- Head and Neck Radiosurgery
- Metastatic and Primary Cancer
- Nasopharynx Tumor
- Schwannoma
- Prostate Radiosurgery
- Skull Base Radiosurgery
- Pituitary Adenomas
- Acoustic Neuromas
- Parasellar
- Cavernous Sinus
- Renal and Pancreas Radiosurgery
- Lung Radiosurgery
- Metastatic and Primary Tumor
- Cranial Radiosurgery
- Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Glioma
- Meningioma
- Metastasis
- Hepatic Radiosurgery
- Metastatic and Primary Tumor
- Spine Radiosurgery
- Sacral
- Cervical
- Lumbar
- Thoracic
What is image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery?
LINAC or a linear accelerator is a radiosurgery device that produces the radiation mounted on a robotic arm. The position of a tumor is located by Cyberknife using image guided cameras. The robotic arm is then attached to the LINAC for delivering numerous radiation beams that also minimizes the damage to nearby normal tissues. Cyberknife makes use of sub-milliliter accuracy for treating cancers of the body, vascular abnormality, functional disorders and tumors.
Is Cyberknife Procedure Safe?
Cyberknife is not like a traditional surgery that offers numerous problems. Also, there is anesthesia or no anesthesia after effects. There is minimum risk of hemorrhaging and infection. The Cyberknife does not cause any damage to healthy tissue nearby the targeted area and plus it provides accurate precision inside sub-millimeter distances. The successful Cyberknife treatment has been received by more than 10,000 people in the world. There is no report of any morbidity or mortality that is directly related with Cyberknife procedure.
Is Cyberknife treatment can be taken multiple times?
The location and the type of tumor being treated determine the frequency of the treatment. Majority of cases can either be re-treated or can also receive multi-treatments with the Cyberknife.
Can both children and elderly be treated with the Cyberknife?
The Cyberknife involves less risk as compared to traditional surgery and is an appropriate option for both pediatric and elderly cases. Age is not considered as an essential factor for Cyberknife treatments.
How is Cyberknife different from Radiosurgery Systems?
The Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery System is a dedicated radiosurgery device in the world. Radiosurgery with Cyberknife system is not restricted for treating tumors in the neck and head.
Non-Invasive : This procedure does not need any invasive body or head frames.
Accurate: The minimal harm is caused to the nearby healthy tissues. High-doses of radiation are delivered with sub-millimeter accuracy.
Beneficial: This system offers non-invasive and pain-free alternative for many patients especially for those who are diagnosed with surgically complex tumors, inoperable tumors or who are searching for an alternative to surgery.
Robotic : This system repeatedly detects the tumor or tracks the position of the tumor, the movement of a patient and it also corrects the delivery of the treatment. This is done without interrupting the treatment or manual reposition of a patient that ultimately slows down the treatment process.
Flexible: The traditional radiation systems just cannot offer versatility and maneuverability that the Cyberknife system offers. The radiation beams are delivered from unlimited angles and positions that help in treating tumors located in any part of the body such as prostate, brain, lungs, pancreas, spine and liver.
Will lesion or tumor disappear after a Cyberknife treatment?
The targeted medical condition is the crucial factor that determines the effects of radiosurgery that may vary and occur over a period of time. It is also possible that some tumors may stop growing or they may disappear slower as compared to others and causes no additional cell activity. Some additional tests along with periodic images of the tumors may also be required for monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment.
What are the Benefits of Cyberknife System?
A new treatment option: This system has proved beneficial for those patients who are diagnosed with complex or surgically inoperable tumors and also for those patients who are not willing to go undergo surgery.
Pain free procedure: This pain free procedure is a best non-invasive alternative to surgery that eliminates complications connected with traditional surgery.
Superior Comfort: The frameless design offers improved level of comfort for the patients. Inconvenience and pain is also eliminated that is related with invasive body and head frames, usually linked with some radiosurgery systems.
Minimal Recovery Time: Cyberknife is performed on an outpatient basis that involves less recovery time unlike the traditional surgery that needs an overnight stay in the hospital. The patients can return to their normal daily routine immediately due to little or no recovery time.
Minimal side effects: This non-invasive treatment offers no or minimal side effects and also results in few post-treatment complications.