Brain Tumors Program
Cyberknife

Seton Brain & Spine Institute is the only neuroscience program in the region offering CyberKnife technology. CyberKnife is an innovative technology for surgically treating certain types of brain tumors. It is a unique tool that utilizes an image-guidance system similar to what those in high-tech image-guided missiles to verify tumor location. The CyberKnife system can treat tumors and lesions other devices cannot because of its increased flexibility and the ability to deliver multiple treatments.

CyberKnife is able to compensate for both patient and tumor movement by using live radiographic images that correlate with pre-operative images to determine patient and tumor position repeatedly throughout the procedure. Once the tumor location has been precisely mapped, the linear accelerator attached to a multi-jointed robotic arm goes to work, delivering multiple, highly-focused beams of radiation from many targeting positions and angles. These beams all intersect within the tumor or lesion, delivering a high dose of radiation with great accuracy while sparing normal tissue.

Benefits of CyberKnife

CyberKnife is one of the tools that enable Seton Brain & Spine Institute to deliver the highest quality, most conservative and advanced care. Unlike open surgery and alternative treatments, the CyberKnife is primarily an outpatient procedure and takes approximately one to three hours per treatment. Most patients receive one to three treatments total.

Other benefits to the patient include:

1. CyberKnife is Painless
2. There is no sedation during treatment
3. There are no incisions
4. No blood loss
5. No recovery time – a patient can go home the same day.
6. Lower risk and fewer complications than open surgery

Dosage distributions are adjusted to minimize radiation, sparing normal tissue.