CyberKnife®

CyberKnife® can be used to treat cancers that begin within or spread to the head and neck. Used alone or with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and chemotherapy, it attacks tumors located in the:

• Eye and eye socket (orbit)
• Nasopharynx
• Sinus
• Nasal cavity
• Tongue
• Salivary glands
• Windpipe (trachea)
• Voice box (larynx)
• Lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck
• Other sites

Before treatment, patients are outfitted with a custom-made, lightweight, open-mesh face mask to assure that the targeted tumor is in exactly the same position for each session.

Lung cancer can be challenging to treat with traditional radiation because your lungs naturally move as you breathe, making it challenging to focus radiation on the tumor. CyberKnife uses state-of-the-art computer and imaging technology to follow the tumor's movements—even as you breathe, making it one of the most effective treatments for:

• Early-stage lung tumors
• High-risk surgical patients including the elderly and those with severe emphysema
• Previously irradiated patients whose tumors have returned

This therapy can be used along with surgery and chemotherapy to attack metastatic lung tumors that form when cancer starts in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs.

Before treatment, fiducial markers are placed near the lung tumor to assure accuracy in pinpointing the target while protecting surrounding healthy tissue.

Metastatic cancer implies that an initial cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bone. It can be complicated to treat these types of tumors. Some, such as tumors of the brain or spine, or those wrapped around other critical structures, are often considered inoperable or surgically challenging.

Our experts successfully treat many of these tumors using the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery system. As one of the most advanced technologies available, it can eliminate malignant and benign tumors anywhere in the body—all without the stress and recovery time needed for surgery.

Many pancreatic tumors are virtually impossible to remove surgically. Conventional radiation is hard to deliver directly to these tumors because they are moving targets, moving as you breathe. Surrounding healthy tissue often receives unnecessary doses of radiation in these procedures.

This therapy, with its advanced combination of computer and imaging technology, helps:

• Identify the exact location of the pancreatic tumor
• Coordinate with the Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System (which follows the tumor's movement as you breathe)
• Accurately focus radiation on the tumor without affecting surrounding healthy tissue.

Our teams are among the most experienced in the nation, and our doctors are currently researching the effectiveness of CyberKnife®.

CyberKnife® may be used for treating prostate cancer for:

• Cancer confined to the prostate and seminal vesicles
• Prostate cancer that doesn’t meet the criteria for brachytherapy

This prostate cancer treatment offers distinct advantages:

• Five treatment sessions compared to the 40 or more required with other forms of radiation therapy
• Proven results that are comparable to traditional radiation therapy as demonstrated by national and international clinical studies
• Preserved quality of life during and after radiation treatment

Before treatment, the prostate is implanted with fiducials—tiny gold markers that help assure accuracy in both targeting the tumor and avoiding nearby healthy tissue.

Additionally, CyberKnife® can be used in conjunction with conventional radiation for men with high-risk or diagnosis.

Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most painful neurological conditions. It is characterized by sudden, electric shock-like pain, on one side of the face. Shocks typically last a few seconds, and can occur as rarely as once a day, or as often as many times an hour.

The location of the pain is determined by the branches of the trigeminal nerve, and can involve the forehead and corner of the eye, cheek, and corner of the nose, lower jaw, and corner of the mouth. The pain can also involve a combination of these locations.

Some activities and environmental stimuli can trigger the pain, including:

• Chewing
• Talking
• Brushing teeth
• Cold temperature
• Windy conditions

With this treatment, radiation beams are delivered to the trigeminal nerve with pinpoint accuracy in order to dull the pain. There is no cutting, blood loss, or hospital stay. The entire treatment is delivered in a single, painless 45-minute session.

Most patients experience elimination or significant reduction of their face pain within several days to weeks.

CyberKnife is a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of tumors and lesions throughout the body, utilizing highly targeted radiation therapy.

CyberKnife delivers high doses of radiation to the tumor with pinpoint accuracy, guided by real-time imaging and tracking systems, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

CyberKnife can be used to treat various types of cancer, including prostate, lung, brain, bones, liver, and pancreas.

No, CyberKnife is not surgery. It is a non-invasive procedure that does not require incisions, anesthesia, or hospitalization.

Treatment sessions typically last between 20 to 90 minutes, depending on the size and location of the tumor.

The number of treatments varies depending on the type, size, and location of the tumor. Most patients complete their treatment in 1 to 5 sessions, usually scheduled over consecutive days, or every other day.

Patients feel the same way leaving as when they arrive, and most patients can drive themselves to their appointments. Your physician will discuss potential side effects based on your specific treatment plan.

While CyberKnife can be an effective treatment option for many patients, it may not be suitable for everyone. Your radiation oncologist will assess your specific condition and determine if CyberKnife is appropriate for you.

During treatment, you will lie comfortably on a treatment table while the CyberKnife system delivers targeted radiation to the tumor. You will not feel any pain during the procedure.