Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife Brain Surgery

Candidates for Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife

Patients who undergo Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Cyberknife surgery are typically being treated for either metastatic tumors or tumors that have spread to the brain from the lung, breast, or skin (melanoma). Those with benign brain tumors falling under the categories of acoustic neuroma, meningioma, craniopharyngioma, pituitary adenoma, hemangioblastoma, and glomus tumor are also considered candidates. In addition, Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife surgery is also approved for patients with trigeminal neuralgia, glioblastoma (GBM), arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and essential tremor.

What is Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife?

Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife is the world's first robotic radiosurgery system capable of targeting small, complex tumors throughout the body. Its goal is to destroy tumor cells to stop tumor growth. This is a non-surgical procedure that uses targeted radiation delivered through an X-ray machine on a robotic arm that disperses radiation beams. Beams delivered using radiosurgery with the Cyberknife are tightly focused in order to avoid contact with healthy cells unaffected by tumors. This non-surgical treatment can be delivered as either a one-time surgery or a tiered procedure broken up into two to five treatments over the span of a week.

There's no need to be put under for Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife surgery. During a Cyberknife procedure, a patient rests comfortably on a treatment table while surgeons use image guidance to track the movement of the tumor in order to make real-time adjustments. A computer-controlled robotic arm moves in relation to the patient and X-ray machine to deliver precise, targeted beams of radiation directly to the tumor. The Cyberknife robotic arm has a high degree of flexibility that makes it possible to deliver targeted radiation from a variety of precise angles and directions. Computer technology guides every beam.

For patients, Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife delivers the benefit of providing an alternative to open surgery that would require an incision. In addition, surgeons are able to observe real-time tumor tracking for precise dosages using this noninvasive procedure that does not require general anesthesia. What's more, Cyberknife surgery is an outpatient procedure that does not require a hospital stay.

Results of A Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife Procedure

A 2019 study on Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for the comprehensive treatment of 4-10 oligometastatic tumors found that this procedure demonstrates meaningful improvements in both progression-free and overall survival using stereotactic radiation of metastatic disease. Overall, published data on the Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife shows positive outcomes, nearly nonexistent side effects and shorter treatment courses. For patients, this can mean a better quality of life both during and after tumor treatments.

What are the risks of Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife?

Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cyberknife comes with fewer risks compared to other types of radiation treatment. However, there is a potential risk for the tissue surrounding the treatment area to be damaged. Brain swelling is possible in people receiving Cyberknife treatment to the brain. While swelling generally resolves on its own without the need for treatment, surgery could be necessary to treat brain swelling caused by radiation.