It used to be that the only option for treatment of brain tumors was to use invasive surgical techniques. In hard to reach areas, nothing could be done. This isn’t the case anymore. Advances in medical technology now give patients more choices than ever when faced with choosing the right treatment. If you’re weighing the options between Gamma Knife vs. CyberKnife, it’s important to understand the core similarities and differences before making your choice.
What Are Gamma Knife Surgery and CyberKnife Surgery?
The term “surgery” is somewhat of a misnomer when discussing both Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) and CyberKnife, as neither one actually involves invasive surgery. Rather, they both provide a noninvasive alternative to intracranial surgery by using radiation technology. In these techniques, small beams of radiation are carefully programmed via the aid of diagnostic imaging such as CAT and MRI scans, then locked onto a target to converge on a finely pinpointed spot. When these beams meet at the designated point, they create a therapeutic level of radiation. The beauty is that there is very little damage done to the surrounding tissues, and the risk of bleeding, infection or anesthetic complications is eliminated.
While the basic premise of both of these forms of stereotactic radiosurgery is the same, there are some intrinsic differences in how they are carried out, the amount of time each takes to perform, the areas of the body they are used on, etc.
How Does Each Compare?
Both Gamma Knife radiosurgery and CyberKnife have their advantages and drawbacks, depending on the application. In instances when pain such as trigeminal neuralgia is involved, resolution of symptoms can be very slow to come about, as the nerve is not immediately affected. This is in stark contrast to procedures such as microvascular decompression, where the patient often experiences immediately noticeable relief from pain and symptoms.
On the other hand, both Gamma Knife radiosurgery and CyberKnife provide an alternative to traditional surgery and radiation therapies. Of course, the efficacy depends on the area being treated, the type of tumor or lesion being treated, and its advancement. To gain better insight into each procedure, different facets of Gamma Knife vs. CyberKnife have been outlined below.
Reliability
Gamma Knife radiosurgery very rarely requires any additional treatments after the first procedure and, in the majority of cases, a single procedure is all that is necessary. It is a very predictable treatment, with more than fifty years of use in the medical field. Continuous improvements in the procedure over the years have offered more than 600,000 people relief from multiple conditions. Another advantage is that Gamma Knife radiosurgery has almost no moving parts, eliminating potentially inaccurate targeting or errors. This is especially important when treating cranial nerve targets or benign disease.
CyberKnife surgery is a newer technology when compared to GKRS. Although precision is extremely accurate, the CyberKnife platform has a few more moving parts than Gamma Knife. As a result, CyberKnife radiosurgery does not have as extensive of a history when compared to GKRS for the brain.
Delivery
Gamma Knife radiosurgery uses around 200 minuscule beams of gamma radiation that, when they enter the body, are relatively harmless due to their low radiation output. However, when they concentrate on the chosen treatment area, the combined energy reaches a therapeutic level.
The radiation from CyberKnife surgery is delivered on three beam planes via a robotic system, so it is lauded for being able to reach a tumor or lesion from many different angles. The dose of radiation along these three beams when they enter the body is somewhat higher than that of the beams from Gamma Knife radiosurgery, making the possibility for surrounding tissue damage slightly higher but still minimal in comparison to the trauma that might be incurred from traditional open surgery.
Uses
The applications of the two procedures are somewhat different, in that Gamma Knife radiosurgery is dedicated exclusively to applications involving the upper neck and head. On the other hand, CyberKnife is more diverse in that it’s used for any location in the body that might benefit from surgical alternatives.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is commonly used for nerve ablation in cases of trigeminal neuralgia and other facial pain conditions. It is also a popular method of treatment for both benign and malignant brain tumors where conventional surgery would otherwise be contraindicated.
CyberKnife can be used anywhere in the body to treat malignant and benign tumors and other lesions in patients that are not candidates for open surgery. This can include internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, pancreas, lung and prostate. It can also be used on brain or spinal tumors or lesions.
Treatment Time
One of the most marked advantages Gamma Knife radiosurgery has over CyberKnife is its fairly short treatment time. Gamma Knife radiosurgery patients can expect to spend between two and four hours total undergoing prep, imaging and radiation delivery itself. CyberKnife procedures can be expected to take anywhere from six to eight hours.
Methods
The preparation and treatment methods are slightly different for Gamma Knife radiosurgery vs. CyberKnife. Gamma Knife radiosurgery uses a head frame that stabilizes your head in one position in order for the radiation to be accurately delivered. It allows for accuracy within a 0.2mm range. In the case of CyberKnife procedures for anything involving the head, a positioning mask is used to stabilize your head and keep you from moving. The accuracy range can waver up to 0.5mm from the target.
If you’re unsure which procedure is right for you and your unique needs, have a candid discussion with your neurosurgeon. He can guide you in the right direction and help you determine how to proceed.
