2. Is knife less surgery the way to go?
Thanks to modern technology, patients can now have some surgeries without
being cut open! There are two types of surgery that can be done without going
under the knife: Gammaknife and/or Cyberknife. In order to better understand
these, lets take a look at the following topics/ questions:
● What is Gammaknife/Cyberknife?
● Understanding GammaKnife Surgery!
● Who came up with these procedures? (The History)
● What is the difference between GammaKnife and CyberKnife surgery?
● What can be treated with these procedures?
● Are there any side effects?
● What local hospitals perform these surgeries?
● Are there any new developments or technological advances regarding the
Gammaknife and Cyberknife.
Simren Smith
Stephanie Arthur
3. Both the GammaKnife and CyberKnife are robotic radiosurgery
machines that provide painless, non-surgical treatment for benign
or malignant tumors.
What is GammaKnife/CyberKnife?
Cyberknife Gammaknife
Stephanie Arthur
4. Who came up with these procedures?
The CyberKnife was developed by
John Adler, a doctor at Stanford. In
1994, the first patient was treated at
Stanford using the CyberKnife. It was
approved by the FDA in 2001. Over
5,500 patients at Stanford have been
treated using the Cyberknife.
The GammaKnife was developed by
Swedish neurosurgeon, Dr. Lars
Leksell and colleague, Borje Larsson
in 1968. It was introduced to the U.S.
in 1987. More than 300,000 patients
have been treated with the
GammaKnife.
Stephanie Arthur
The first GammaKnife 1968
5. What is the difference between the
Gammaknife and Cyberknife?
The GammaKnife is used to treat brain tumors. The
procedure begins with the patient receiving anesthesia and
a frame is attached to the head to hold it in place. The
patient lays on their back and is moved head first into the
machine, where 201 beams of radiation target the
diseased tissue, without damaging the surrounding tissue.
The CyberKnife is made up of a radiation delivery device
(Linac) attached to a robotic arm. This allows the
Cyberknife to be able to treat tumors anywhere in the body.
There is no need for a patient to be still or head frames to
hold them in place because the Cyberknife automatically
adjusts to the movement of the patient or tumor. The
Cyberknife is pain-free, no anesthesia is required.
Stephanie Arthur
8. What conditions can be treated by
GammaKnife surgery?
● Malignant tumors such as metastases (cancer that has spread to the brain)
and malignant gliomas
● Benign tumors such as meningiomas, acoustic neuromas (vestibular
schwannomas), pituitary tumors and low grade glioma and skull-based
tumors
● Vascular malformations such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and
cavernous angiomas (cavernous malformations)
● Parkinson’s disease
● Lesions causing epilepsy
9. What conditions can be treated by
CyberKnife surgery?
● Many types of tumors or lesions can be treated. In addition, other
conditions throughout the body can be treated with CyberKnife. Among
these are:
● Cancers in the brain, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, kidney, head and
neck, spine and other soft-tissue sites
● Certain benign tumors
● Malformations of blood vessels within the brain or
spine
● Symptomatic functional disorders of the
neurological system
10. Are there any side effects?
CyberKnife patients rarely experience side
effects from treatment and can immediately
resume daily activities.
GammaKnife patients may have a headache
or swelling from the head frame after the
procedure, but many patients report no
problems and can resume daily activities within
a day or so.
Stephanie Arthur
11. Where can one have GammaKnife
surgery in Ohio?
Gamma Knife Center
Kettering Medical Center
3535 Southern Blvd.
Kettering, OH 45429
(937) 395-8488 or (800) 834-9815.
The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research
Institute
300 West 10th Avenue, Suite 519
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 293-5066 or (800) 293-5066
Ohio Ear Institute, LLC
387 County Line Road West
Suite #115
Westerville, OH 43082
(616) 891-9190
12. Where can one have CyberKnife
surgery in Ohio?
Columbus CyberKnife
495 Cooper Rd., Suite 125
Westerville, OH 43081
614.898.8300
First Dayton CyberKnife
2632 Woodman Center Court
Dayton, OH 45420
937.293.2273
Alternative Phone: 855.DAY.TON1
Fax: 937.293.6573
University Hospitals - Seidman Cancer Center
11100 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: +1.800.641.2422
13. Gamma Knife Society- New
Developments
The Gamma Knife Society is a society of
individuals who get together to discuss new
developments of the GammaKnife.
Gamma Knife Society Meeting
14. About The Society:
The Leksell Gamma Knife® Society was founded in 1989 as a forum for Gamma Knife clinicians, physicists and researchers
to exchange information, experiences and clinical techniques, as well as clinical data on the use of Leksell Gamma Knife.
Mission statement:
The mission of the Leksell Gamma Knife Society is to further define and expand the role of Gamma Knife Surgery in the
treatment of intracranial disorders. The development of best practices in order to improve patient outcomes is an important
objective of the Society. Membership is open to practitioners at all Gamma Knife sites.
Objectives:
● Improve results achieved in the field of radiosurgery by promoting support of basic and clinical research, with a focus
on expanding the role of Leksell Gamma Knife
● Increase the visibility and acceptance of Leksell Gamma Knife technique in the worldwide medical community and
among healthcare providers and patients
● Maintain leadership in the field of radiosurgery by continued commitment to the highest standards of research and
technical achievement
● Stimulate multi-center trials and cross-site collaboration
15. How many different machines are
there?
The GammaKnife currently has five different versions; U, B, C,
4C, and Perfexion.
The M6 is the newest CyberKnife series, with three models, FIM,
FM, and FI. There are also the Cyberknife VSI and G4 versions.
Stephanie Arthur
16. Summary
The GammaKnife and CyberKnife are Robotic radiosurgery
devices that deliver high doses of radiation to treat tumors and
abnormalities of blood vessels and arteries in the brain and
spinal cord. Both procedures involve no cutting, are painless,
and have minimal side effects if any at all. The CyberKnife was
developed at Stanford and it’s flexible arm allows it to adjust to
movement from patient or tumor, and can treat anywhere in the
body. The GammaKnife was invented by a Swedish
neurosurgeon, and introduced to the U.S. in 1987. The patient
lays down and their head is attached to a head frame to hold it
in place then they are moved into the machine, the
GammaKnife is used to treat tumors and abnormalities in the
brain and spinal cord.
Stephanie Arthur
18. Picture Websites:
“News & Events." Oklahoma CyberKnife. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2013. http://www.oklahomack.com/our-
center/news-events/
“Gammaknife Then and Now: 3,000 Patients and Counting.” | Columbia Neurosurgery."Columbia Neurosurgery. N.
p., n.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2013
http://www.columbianeurosurgery.org/2012/02/gamma-knife-then-and-now-3000-patients-and-counting/
“How the Gammaknife Works-Gamma knife surgery.” Tufts Medical Center. N.p., N.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2013
http://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.
org/OurServices/SpecialServicesandCenters/BostonGammaKnifeCenter/HowGammaKnifeWorksGammaKnifeHist
ory
“Premier Cancer Centers Dallas.” Merchant Circle. N.p., 2013. Web. 06 Aug. 2013
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Premier.Cancer.Centers.2149547734/picture/view/4487567
“A Radical Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Patients.” The Gaurdian. Lucy Atkins. 14 Dec. 2009.
Web. 06 Aug. 2013 http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/15/obsessive-complusive-disorder-gamma-
knife
Stephanie Arthur
19. Content Websites:
"What Is the CyberKnife® System?" CyberKnife::What Is CyberKnife? N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2013. http://www.
cyberknife.com/cyberknife-overview/what-cyberknife.aspx?linkidentifier=id
Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery System N.p., 2012. Web 06 Aug. 2013. http://www.cyberknife.
com/uploadedFiles/CyberKnife_Overview/500929.A_CyberKnife_Patient_Brochure_FINAL.pdf
"CyberKnife M6 Series." Accuray. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2013. http://www.accuray.com/solutions/treatment-
delivery/cyberknife-treatment-delivery/m6-series
“Stanford Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiosurgery.” Stanford Hospital and Clinics. N.p., 2013. Web 06 Aug. 2013.
http://stanfordhospital.org/clinicsmedServices/COE/cyberknife/
“Who We Are-Fact Sheet. Tufts Medical Center. N.p., 2013. Web 06 Aug. 2013 http://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.
org/OurServices/SpecialServicesandCenters/BostonGammaKnifeCenter/WhoWeAreFactSheet
“Overview: History and Technical.”-- School of Medicine at the University of Virginia N.p., 2013. Web. 06 Aug.
2013http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/neurosurgery/gammaknife/overview-page
“Vascular Malformations.” Cavernous Malformations. N.p., N.d. Web 06 Aug. 2013.
http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/stroke/patientcare/services/cavernous
I
Stephanie Arthur
