I Heart CyberKnife®

Total Health | November 9th, 2009

Consultant Cardiologist Dr John Coltart has used The CyberKnife® for the first time to treat a heart condition. Although it is relatively early days, the outcome appears to be highly successful. Here he explains the principle behind this exciting new development:

CyberKnife offers an advanced form of treatment predominantly in the field of oncology where using a non-surgical procedure requiring no anaesthesia and highly focused radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. therapy is applied to the lesiona general term to cover any abnormality such as a wound, infection, abscess or tumour.. This focused treatment means that there is only a minimal dose to the surrounding normal tissueA group of cells with a similar structure and a specialised function. that would normally be vulnerable to damage from conventional high radiation therapy. The CyberKnife® system offers radiosurgery using advanced robotics and can treat any tumourAn abnormal swelling. in the body. The precision of the application of the dose means that this technique may be used in a wider variety of medical applications.

Email bob@totalhealth.co.uk for a copy of the full article.

Total Health's blog

Filed under:

CyberKnife®

Expert articles

CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery

By Dr Andrew Gaya, Consultant Clinical OncologistContact

The CyberKnife® System is a robotic radiosurgery instrument that is revolutionising the way cancers are treated. It was developed by John Adler, a neurosurgeon from Stanford University in the 1990's as a way of extending radiosurgery from the head and brain to include the rest of the body. He went on to found Accuray Incorporated, manufacturers of the CyberKnife® System. CyberKnife® is in clinical use throughout the world with over 60,000 patient treatments conducted. There are currently three units in the UK, and over 300 worldwide.

What can modern neurosurgery treatments be used for?

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact

The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk. Modern neurosurgery and radiosurgery can be used to treat a variety of conditions including brain tumours, brain haemorrhages, pain, epilepsyA tendency to have recurrent seizures., and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Neurosurgery for brain tumours

By Mr Ranjeev Bhangoo, Consultant NeurosurgeonContact

It is now well recognised that patients with brain tumours (and their family) do best if managed by a group of doctors, both medical and surgical, who have a particular interest in the management of brain tumours. This is known as a tumour Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). All patients with brain tumours should receive highly individualised care that delivers not only the best treatment possible for the patient but treatment that is appropriate to the patient’s and family’s psychological and emotional needs. The aim of neurosurgery has always been to gain the maximal benefit for the patient with the minimum amount of risk.

CyberKnife® FAQs

By Dr Andrew Gaya, Consultant Clinical OncologistContact

The CyberKnife® System is a robotic radiosurgery instrument that is revolutionising the way cancers are treated. It was developed by John Adler, a neurosurgeon from Stanford University in the 1990’s as a way of extending radiosurgery from the head to include the rest of the body. CyberKnife® is in clinical use throughout the world with over 100,000 patient treatments conducted.

CyberKnife® – A Novel Treatment Solution

By Dr Chris Nutting, Consultant Clinical OncologistContact

Cancers can arise from any cellThe basic unit of all living organisms. in the body and therefore can take any form. When cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. forms a single solid tumourAn abnormal swelling. or mass, surgery can be straightforward, but what about when the cancer invades around other essential tissues and organs – especially in the head and neck? Many tumours, particularly of the head and neck have previously been effectively inoperable, and so major changes in treatment approach were needed.

CyberKnife® – Cancer Search and Destroy

By Dr Nick Plowman, Senior Consultant in Clinical OncologyContact

Seek and Destroy

The type of radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. used in radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation. for cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is called ‘ionising’ radiation. This form of radiation, in the right dose will kill all living cells, but cancer cells are particularly susceptible. The trick therefore is to deliver the right dose, to the correctly identified affected areas (focal) even when presented with a moving target such as the heart or lungs.

Text Size

I Heart CyberKnife®

Further Information

Latest Health News