CyberKnife

What is CyberKnife?

CyberKnife is a highly advanced specialised radiotherapy system developed by Accuray, used to treat tumours and some non-cancerous conditions throughout the body with exceptional precision.

The cutting-edge robotic radiosurgery machine delivers radiation from hundreds of different angles, using real-time imaging feedback to treat the affected area with pinpoint sub-millimetre accuracy. This helps minimise the severity of side effects and allows very high doses of radiation to be delivered in a few days versus conventional radiotherapy treatments which can often require 20-30 sessions.

CyberKnife is particularly beneficial for cancer located in the chest and abdomen including the lung, liver and pancreas. Other treatment sites, such as the prostate, which moves during treatment in response to biological functions, also benefit from this advanced technology.

The benefits

Non-invasive - No incisions, general anaesthetic or hospital stay.
Highly precise - Real-time tumour tracking helps protect surrounding healthy tissue.
Flexible treatment - Can treat tumours in the brain, spine and other areas of the body.
Fewer treatment sessions - Treatment is often completed in one to five sessions.
An alternative to surgery - Particularly helpful when surgery is not possible due to tumour location or other health considerations

How it works

Before treatment, detailed imaging such as CT, MRI or PET scans are used to map the exact location of the tumour.

During treatment, the CyberKnife system uses a robotic arm to deliver hundreds of small radiation beams to the affected area from different angles. Advanced image guidance continuously tracks your position, allowing the system to adjust the beam in real time if the tumour moves during breathing or normal body motion. Because of this precision, high doses of radiation can be delivered directly to the tumour while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue.

Treatment sessions usually last between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the area being treated. Most treatments are completed over one to five sessions, and patients can usually return home the same day.

Who is eligible?

Your specialist team may recommend CyberKnife treatment if you have:

Small to medium-sized tumours in the brain or body
Secondary (metastatic) tumours that have spread to the brain, spine or other organs
Tumours located close to critical structures where high precision is required
Tumours that have returned after previous surgery or radiotherapy
Conditions where surgery may not be suitable due to health factors or the location of the tumour.

Your specialist will review your scans, medical history and overall health to determine whether CyberKnife is the best option for you.

CyberKnife may not be suitable for all tumours or conditions. If it isn’t the right treatment for you, your care team will discuss other safe and effective options.