Gamma Knife® and CyberKnife™ technologies are similar in that they both treat tumors. However, choosing between the two procedures depends on the types of tumors being treated and their location.
As an experienced neurosurgeon, Christopher Duma, MD, FACS, offers Gamma Knife and CyberKnife procedures at our Newport Beach, California, office.
Dr. Duma determines which technology is appropriate for your condition and provides educational resources to help you understand what to expect during treatment.
The following is a general overview of how Gamma Knife and CyberKnife work and the conditions each treats.
Gamma Knife and CyberKnife are types of stereotactic radiosurgery that can treat conditions like brain tumors, vascular malformations, and trigeminal neuralgia.
Gamma Knife uses multiple focused beams of high-dose radiation to target specific areas of the brain. This procedure’s precision allows Dr. Duma to destroy tumors and other abnormal tissues without damaging healthy tissues nearby.
CyberKnife also delivers high doses of X-ray radiation into tumors in the brain and body. The technology features a robotic arm that reaches tumors from hundreds of different angles with a high level of accuracy.
Both Gamma Knife and CyberKnife procedures are considered noninvasive and are available on an outpatient basis.
Both types of stereotactic radiosurgery procedures are effective and safe at treating noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors.
Gamma Knife and CyberKnife technologies do have key differences that can make one procedure more appropriate than the other, depending on the type of tumor you have and its location.
Here are four things to consider when deciding on your course of treatment:
Gamma Knife technology was specifically designed to treat brain tumors. Its precision allows Dr. Duma to treat even the most complex tumors in areas of the brain that are difficult to reach with other technologies.
During a Gamma Knife procedure, you wear a head frame to prevent unnecessary movements and ensure the highest level of delivery accuracy of the radiation.
CyberKnife treatments require that you wear a non-rigid mask instead of a head frame, which may be more comfortable for some people.
Some tumors can be treated with the Gamma Knife in just one session. Treatment plans using CyberKnife technology can take one to five sessions, scheduled a few weeks apart.
More frequent visits for treatment can cause hardship for some people, so GammaKnife may be a more viable option.
Gamma Knife has been in use since 1968, providing physicians and patients with more than 50 years of documented treatment research and results.
You can also access extensive data about the long-term results and safety of Gamma Knife technology ahead of your procedure, so you can stay well-informed about your treatment.
CyberKnife debuted in 1994 as an innovative solution to previously inoperable brain tumors. Even though the technology has been in use for less time than the Gamma Knife, its track record for successful outcomes is solid.
Call the office of Christopher Duma, MD, FACS, today to learn more about Gamma Knife and CyberKnife technologies or book a consultation online.
