Health A-Z

CyberKnife radiosurgery is a specialized form of radiation therapy used to treat tumors and other medical conditions with high precision and minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Here's how it relates to symptoms, treatment plans, and diagnosis testing.

1. Tumor-related symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on the location and type of tumor being treated. These may include:
   • Headaches
   • Seizures
   • Vision changes
   • Motor or sensory deficits
   • Pain or discomfort

1. Pre-treatment planning: A multidisciplinary team, including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and dosimetrists, collaborates to develop a personalized treatment plan based on the patient's specific condition, tumor characteristics, and treatment goals.
2. Target delineation: The treatment target, including the tumor or lesion and surrounding critical structures, is delineated using imaging data and specialized software to ensure accurate targeting and sparing of healthy tissues.
3. Radiosurgery session: During the CyberKnife radiosurgery session, the patient lies comfortably on a treatment table, and a robotic arm equipped with a linear accelerator delivers highly focused beams of radiation from multiple angles to the treatment target. The radiation beams are precisely shaped and adjusted in real time to account for patient movement and changes in anatomy.
4. Post-treatment monitoring: After treatment, patients are monitored closely for any acute side effects or complications. Follow-up imaging studies are typically performed at regular intervals to assess treatment response and monitor for tumor recurrence.

1. Imaging studies: CT scans, MRI scans, or other imaging studies are used to visualize the tumor or target area, assess its size, location, and characteristics, and identify nearby critical structures.
2. Biopsy: In some cases, a biopsy may be performed to obtain a tissue sample for pathological analysis to confirm the diagnosis and determine the tumor's biological behavior.
3. Medical history and physical examination: A thorough medical history and physical examination are conducted to assess the patient's overall health, symptoms, and any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect treatment planning.