open access
Cyberknife: A double edged sword?
open access
Abstract
The Cyberknife represents a new, frameless stereotactic radiosurgery system which efficiently incorporates advance robotics with computerized image reconstruction to allow highly conformal image guided radiation delivery. This review focus is on the pros and cons of this new radiotherapy tool, its current indications, safety profile and future directions. A literature search of Medline, Pubmed, Biomed, Medscape and Cancer lit database were referred to retrieve relevant data/information. The authors conclude that the use of this system offers an invaluable solution to the treatment of selective tumours/lesions located close to critical structures, salvage of recurrent and metastatic lesions and potential of treatment of selective early stage malignancies like the carcinoma prostate and lung. However, it is still too premature, with insufficient follow up data to advocate it as the treatment of choice in any set up. There are several radiobiological issues that also remain in the greyzone.
Abstract
The Cyberknife represents a new, frameless stereotactic radiosurgery system which efficiently incorporates advance robotics with computerized image reconstruction to allow highly conformal image guided radiation delivery. This review focus is on the pros and cons of this new radiotherapy tool, its current indications, safety profile and future directions. A literature search of Medline, Pubmed, Biomed, Medscape and Cancer lit database were referred to retrieve relevant data/information. The authors conclude that the use of this system offers an invaluable solution to the treatment of selective tumours/lesions located close to critical structures, salvage of recurrent and metastatic lesions and potential of treatment of selective early stage malignancies like the carcinoma prostate and lung. However, it is still too premature, with insufficient follow up data to advocate it as the treatment of choice in any set up. There are several radiobiological issues that also remain in the greyzone.
Keywords
Cyberknife; Stereotactic radiosurgery; Robotics; Image guided radiotherapy; Pros and cons; Greyzone
About this articleTitle
Cyberknife: A double edged sword?
Journal
Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy
Issue
Pages
93-97
Published online
2010-07-01
DOI
10.1016/j.rpor.2010.05.002
Bibliographic record
Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2010;15(4):93-97.
Keywords
Cyberknife
Stereotactic radiosurgery
Robotics
Image guided radiotherapy
Pros and cons
Greyzone
Authors
Bindhu Joseph
Sanjay S. Supe
Aruna Ramachandra