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How does the CyberKnife Radiosurgery work?
Pencil beams of X-ray radiation enter the body from multiple targeting angles and positions. All of the beams intersect within the lesion where the cumulative dose is large enough to control the abnormal cells.
The CyberKnife is both flexible and incredibly accurate. The equipment consists of a miniaturized 6-MV linear accelerator mounted on an industrial robot that moves the beam of radiation around the patient. Beam positioning is guided by an image based guidance system. The patient's position is continuously monitored and the targeting of the radiation beam is adjusted in accordance with a pre-plan that relates beam position to imaging studies of the anatomical location of the tumor.
What is Stereotactic Radiosurgery?
Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-invasive treatment in which high doses of focused radiation are delivered by radiation beams from multiple locations outside of the body to control a tumor or lesion within the body. This treatment requires a team approach to many lesions, with the radiation oncologist working with the referring physicians, often neurosurgeons, for delineation of the target volumes to be irradiated.
Stereotactic radiosurgery has been used and continually refined for more than 30 years. This procedure does not actually remove the tumor or lesion. Rather, the energy of the radiation damages the target tissue in such a manner that the tissue can no longer grow.
How is the CyberKnife different from other stereotactic surgery systems?
First, the CyberKnife system uses the combination of a robotic arm, the miniature linear accelerator and an image-guided targeting system. Because of the flexibility of the robotic arm, the system is able to reach both intracranial and extracranial sites that previously were not able to be treated by radiosurgery.
Second, unlike most stereotactic radiosurgery systems, the CyberKnife system is able to locate the position of the tumor without the use of an invasive stereotactic head frame or stereotactic body frame. Some patients will require the placement of marker seeds, called fiducials, at body sites within the body near the target tissue. Usually these are placed by interventional radiologists or surgeons under local or general anesthesia.
Third, the CyberKnife system compensates for patient movement during treatment, constantly ensuring accurate targeting. This is accomplished by X-rays that monitor the contour of the skull, spine, or the position of the fiducial markers.
The Cyberknife Service
of BroMenn Healthcare at the Community Cancer Center
407 East Vernon Avenue
Normal, Illinois 61761
(309) 451-2288
1-888-292-7564 Toll-Free
www.cyberknifeillinois.org
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