An Overview of CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery

Abstract

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-invasive procedure that utilizes precisely targeted radiation as an ablative surgical tool. Conventional radiosurgery devices, such as the Gamma Knife and X-Knife rely upon skeletally attached stereotactic frames to immobilize the patient and precisely determine the 3D spatial position of a tumor. A relatively new instrument, the CyberKnife (Accuray, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA), makes it possible to administer radiosurgery without a frame. The CyberKnife localizes clinical targets using a very accurate Image-to-Image correlation algorithm, and precisely cross-fires high-energy radiation from a lightweight linear accelerator by means of a highly manipulable robotic arm, Cyberknife radiosurgery is an effective alternative to conventional surgery or radiation therapy for a range of tumors and some non-neoplastic disorders. This report will describe Cyberknife technology and oncologic applications in neurosurgery and throughout the body.