Cyberknife is a type of radiosurgery used to deliver radiation to a specific part of the body. This high-energy x-ray system utilizes a robotic arm to deliver focused beam radiation. While the focused radiation can destroy tumor cells and halt tumor growth, the surrounding tissues have minimal exposure to the radiation, thus sparing them from damage.When is it used?
CyberKnife is useful for both cancerous and noncancerous tumors. While it has been used to treat tumors of the head, neck, breast, lung, pancreas, kidney, liver, and prostate, it can be extremely effective for the treatment of spinal tumors.
How does CyberKnife work?
Patients who undergo CyberKnife have a specialized treatment plan created for them by their neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, and a medical physicist. These personalized plans take into account the specific location of the tumor in the body, including the tumor type, shape, size, surrounding tissues and organs (to minimize radiation exposure) and the exact quantity of radiation the tumor cells are receiving,
Why not just have surgery?