Treatment Process
Patient Consultation
Patient eligibility for CyberKnife treatment is
evaluated by the patient's doctor and the
CyberKnife of Indianapolis treatment team. After
eligibility has been determined, the patient
will make an appointment for the CyberKnife
treatment setup.
Treatment Setup
Depending on the treatment plan, small metal or
gold markers (called fiducials) may be implanted
to accurately target radiation from the
CyberKnife. These markers are only five
millimeters long and do not cause discomfort to
the patient after implantation. Other patients
may also be fitted with a Synchrony™ tracking
vest. Both the vest and the markers are used to
track tumor movement during treatment. For other
patients, a mask may be made to immobilize the
head and neck region when treating tumors in
this region. Most patients will have a mold
created for their torso in order to minimize
body movement.
CyberKnife Imaging/Simulation
This is a dry run for actual treatment. During
the simulation, the patient will undergo a CT
scan, possibly with contrast (iodinated dye),
which is used to demonstrate both the tumor and
normal anatomy. This allows the physician and
physicist to precisely plan delivery of
radiation to the tumor. In some cases, a MRI
scan may be necessary to fully visualize the
tumor and adjacent critical anatomy. If markers
were placed, the location will be verified
before further imaging and treatment.
Treatment Delivery
Typically, treatments are delivered between one to five sessions depending on the situation.
Arriving
On treatment day, you should wear comfortable clothing and no jewelry. You may bring your favorite CD to listen to during your treatment session.
Positioning
During the CyberKnife procedure, you will be lying still on a table. We provide you with an individually-designed cushion to make you comfortable during treatment. Generally, no sedation or anesthesia is used because the treatment is painless.
Painless Treatment, Verification & Targeting
The treatment itself involves the administration of radiation beams delivered from different directions. Prior to the delivery of each radiation beam, the image guidance system takes x-ray images and compares them to the original CT scan. This information is used to ensure the radiation is targeted directly at the tumor while avoiding critical structures. The whole treatment generally takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Completion
Patients leave the center and resume normal activity immediately following the treatment.
Patient Follow-up
As with any radiosurgery or radiation-therapy treatment, follow-up imaging tests and physician visits are required to monitor the effects of treatment. This will be coordinated with the patient’s referring physician.