CyberKnife®: Destroying cancer in a more patient-friendly way
Parkview’s CyberKnife, a physician/hospital partnership, is an amazing technology that destroys cancer tumors. This stereotactic radiosurgery system offers many benefits traditional systems cannot.
CyberKnife can:
- Treat tumors that were previously considered inoperable or untreatable
- Treat patients on an outpatient basis — no hospital stay required
- Treat tumors with minimal (sometimes no) incisions, pain and anesthesia
- Reduce the risk of complications, infections, blood loss, hearing loss and alteration in feeling of extremities
The Parkview CyberKnife represents real hope in the fight against cancer. For more information, consult your physician, or call the Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center at (260) 266-9100 or
(877) PVH-HOPE (784-4673).
CyberKnife® is a registered trademark of Accuray Incorporated.
Frequently asked questions about Parkview’s CyberKnife
What is stereotactic radiosurgery?
Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-surgical treatment using highly focused beams of radiation on small and previously inaccessible tumors or lesions deep within the body. Because the radiation beams enter the body from many different angles – and are all focused directly on the tumor or lesion – no damage occurs to the surrounding tissues. Procedures using the CyberKnife are typically non-invasive, though certain soft-tissue applications do require a small incision in order to place markers used for tracking purposes.
What is the difference between conventional radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery?
Conventional radiation therapy (radiotherapy) administers a broad beam of radiation from one or two directions through normal tissues and requires between 10 and 20 treatments to complete. CyberKnife’s stereotactic radiosurgery, on the other hand, delivers highly focused beams from many directions, so normal tissues experience less radiation and the treatment can be completed in fewer sessions.
How is CyberKnife different from other stereotactic radiosurgery systems?
CyberKnife, like other stereotactic radiosurgery systems, uses a linear accelerator (beam source) and computerized image guidance. CyberKnife, however, has the flexibility to treat tumors unreachable by other radiosurgery systems, and the pinpoint accuracy that allows higher doses of radiation to reach the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Other stereotactic systems cannot compensate for small patient movements, such as breathing, requiring the use of an invasive stereotactic head frame to immobilize the patient during treatments. The CyberKnife intelligent robotics system does away with the need for a head frame, so procedures are more comfortable for the patient and can be done on an outpatient basis. The CyberKnife can treat tumors and lesions throughout the body, including the brain, spine, pancreas, liver, lung, prostate and other soft tissue organs.
What conditions can be treated using CyberKnife?
Many types of tumors, lesions and other conditions can be treated with CyberKnife, including:
- Cancers of the brain, liver, lungs, pancreas, pelvis, head and neck, spine and other soft tissue areas
- Certain benign tumors
- Malformations of blood vessels within the brain or spine
- Symptomatic functional disorders
What is the treatment course?
After development of a treatment plan by the clinical team, CyberKnife radiosurgery treatment is performed on an outpatient basis. The number of treatments varies depending on tumor size, location and shape. In most cases, one to five treatments will inactivate or eradicate the cancer.
For more information, call the Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center at (260) 266-9100 or (877) PVH-HOPE (784-4673).