The Procedure
Step 1: Treatment Setup
Fiducial Placement
For body (non-head or spine) treatments, a short outpatient procedure may be required to implant 1-4 gold markers (fiducials) in or near the lesion. The fiducials enable the CyberKnife System to crack the target during treatment. Fiducial Less Treatment Now Available We now offer CyberKnife lung cancer treatments without the need to implant fiducials. This option is only available for certain patients depending on the size and location of their tumor. Please speak to your physician regarding this option.
Imaging
New CT scans and possibly MRI scans are required even if you’re had recent scans. This is because the CyberKnife requires that scans be obtained using specific protocols which are not normally used for standard diagnostic imaging. In addition a custom soft mask is used for head/neck treatments and all CT scans (head and body) are obtained using a special flat couch top identical to the CyberKnife treatment table.
Step 2: Treatment Planning
The CT data (and MRI if required) is downloaded to the CyberKnife treatment planning computer where the medical physicist and physicians use advanced software to obtain a customize treatment plan with a large number of radiation beams. The patient does not need to be present during this step.
Step 3: Painless Treatment
While lying on the treatment table, the patient is fitted with the custom mask (for head/neck treatments only) made earlier during the setup process. Generally, no sedation or anesthesia is required. The CyberKnife robot will move slowly around the patient to deliver the radiation from many directions. The imaging system periodically verifies the target position to ensure the radiation is delivered accurately to the lesion. The entire procedure typically lasts 30-90 minutes.
Completion
Patients typically have from 1 to 5 treatments depending on the location of the lesion and the specific type of lesion. The patient can usually leave the center and resume normal activity immediately. However some patients may feel a little tired or fatigued after the treatment(s).
Follow-up
Follow-up imaging and physician consultation are required to monitor the progress of the tumor or lesion.
