Brain Tumor Treatment

What is Cyberknife VSI & How Can it Help Treat Brain Tumors?

Cyberknife’s robotic radiosurgery system is the latest non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of cancerous and benign brain tumors, as well as tumors throughout the body. Cyberknife treatment delivers radiation to brain tumors with extreme precision, while protecting healthy tissues and structures. Cyberknife can even treat inoperable tumors and offers the most sophisticated non-invasive radiation treatment available, as other radiosurgery systems cannot treat tumors with the same level of accuracy and are more invasive. Cyberknife treatment for brain tumors may be used alone, or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy options. Cyberknife offers brain tumor patients the opportunity to avoid the high risk of complications resulting from open brain surgery, or can be used as an ideal non-invasive radiation approach following surgery. The advantage that Colorado Cyberknife offers patients is that we are one of a few facilities in the world to offer the latest non-invasive radiation treatment, with the next-generation Cyberknife VSI unit, which has revolutionary benefits. We also boast the region’s leading radiosurgery doctors.

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Benefits of Cyberknife VSI Treatment for Brain Tumors

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Painless & Non-Invasive CyberKnife’s system improves on other radiosurgery techniques, such as the Gamma Knife, by eliminating the need to fit patients with the invasive & painful head-frame.Therefore, the procedure is done on an out-patient basis with no anesthesia, typically in only 5 or fewer treatments. Cyberknife can treat patients who: – Prefer a non-invasive approach. – Have inoperable tumors & lesions. – Are not candidates for open brain surgery. – Want to avoid the physical trauma, potential complications, &        recovery associated with open brain surgery.

Targets the Tumor, Not Healthy Brain Tissue The benefit of not requiring an invasive head-frame is that treatments may be spread over five sessions, resulting in sub-millimeter accuracy, and therefore the sparing of healthy tissues and structures. The technology behind Cyberknife’s approach includes: – 3D images, such as a CT, MRI, or Pet Scan, that locate the         tumor’s size & shape, as well as nearby structures. – Live imaging & synchronization to patient and tumor movement. – Powerful software that constructs a precise treatment plan. – Radiation beams that can be delivered from virtually any angle.

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Little to No Recovery Time or Side Effects Compared to open brain surgery, Cyberknife is a very safe, precise, and reliable treatment option with minimal to no side effects or recovery time. In contrast, open brain surgery has many potential risks, such as hemorrhage, infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or brain damage. Compared to Gamma Knife, Cyberknife’s multi-session fractional treatment approach even further minimizes potential risk of radiation exposure to health tissues & structures.Treatment time with Cyberknife is significantly reduced compared to other radiation therapy options.

Cyberknife Treats Many Types of Brain Tumors:

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- Brain Metastases

Cyberknife performs equivalently to surgery for a single metastasis, and even better for multiple metastases. Cyberknife’s advanced imaging allows it to treat tumors that are widely dispersed. Brain metastases occur in 5-10% of all adult patients with cancer and affect nearly 170,000 individuals in the US per year. Published reports of radiosurgery treatment of metastasized brain tumors indicate high rates of tumor control (91%) for intracranial tumor patients with low complication rates.

- Astrocytoma, Glioma, Glioblastoma Multiforme, Oligodendroglioma

Cyberknife offers advanced conformance to tumor shape, which is an important factor with future treatment, in the case of a recurrence. Cyberknife can also irradiate the tumor bed to delay recurrence.

- Pituitary Adenoma

Cyberknife’s staged treatments can help avoid the side effects associated with single-session radiosurgery, such as visual loss. Its superior conformance to the tumor shape minimizes irradiation of healthy tissue, including the optic chasm and hypothalamus.

- Hemangioblastoma

Cyberknife non-invasively ablates the tumor nodule, even in hard-to-reach areas, and normally in one session. This is particularly beneficial for Von Hippel Linau patients who can become disabled by having multiple surgeries.

- Skull Base Tumors

The proximity of these tumors to vital nerve and vascular structures makes them surgically problematic. Cyberknife is a leading treatment for these tumors because it minimizes risk of injury, infection and residual tumor growth.

- Chordoma

Chordomas are radio-resistant and close to vital structures, but Cyberknife’s superior conformance to tumor shape and staged sessions permit repeat treatments & higher doses. Therefore, Cyberknife should be considered as the first treatment option.

- Meningioma

Radiosurgery is an ideal therapy for smaller Meningiomas. Cyberknife is particularly safe for Meningiomas nearby critical structures because treatment can be delivered in fractional stages.

- Acoustic Neuroma

According to studies, Cyberknife offers the highest rates ever achieved for hearing and facial-nerve preservation for these tumors, which is due to multiple fractional treatments.

- Neurofibroma & Schwannoma

While these tumors are resistant to radiation, Cyberknife’s conformance to tumor shape makes it an effective alternative to other radiotherapy options and surgery for selected patients.

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Cyberknife Excels at Treating Vascular Malformations and Functional Disorders:

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- Arteriovenous Malformation

Cyberknife can treat locations in the brain that are not safely approached with microsurgery or endovascular therapy. Therefore, AVMs have an 80% chance of disappearing in a single treatment session. Cyberknife can also be used in conjunction with other therapies to remove remnants.

- Trigeminal Neuralgia

Cyberknife is painless, less risky, and non-invasive compared to other therapies and conventional radiotherapy options, which makes repeated treatments easier in case of a recurrence.

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What Are the Indications for Using Cyberknife on Brain Tumors?

• Localized, Solid Mass Tumors.
• Medically Inoperable Tumors.
• Unresectable and Marginally Resectable Tumors
• Tumors Adjacent to Critical Structures.
• Tumors Treated with Radiotherapy Previously.
• Tumors with High Risk of Recurrence.
• Radioresistant Tumors.
• Tumors that Cause Pain.
• Adjunct Therapy to Other Treatments to Maximize Success.
• Brain Metastases

Compassionate Care Travel Assistance Program:

Offered Exclusively By Colorado CyberKnife.

We are setting the standard for compassionate care.
Colorado CyberKnife will cover air travel and lodging within the cost of treatment.*

Our goal is to help patients focus on their education and clinical decision making with their Physician Specialists by alleviating the anxiety insurance and other financial factors can add to this trying time.

Please inquire about our Compassionate Care Travel Assistance Program.

*All patients with governmental insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, VA, DOD, etc excluded by law.

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