Radiosurgery: Gamma Knife & CyberKnife and TrueBeam Technologies

Cancer is a serious disease that is spreading rapidly today. Every year, millions of people around the world meet this disease for the first time. The fact that the disease threatens human life is one of the main factors that scientists make new research and discoveries in treatment. As a result of these efforts, devices produced with advanced technologies offer new possibilities in diagnosing and treating cancer.

Gamma Knife, CyberKnife and TrueBeam... These advanced radiosurgery technology devices eliminate many problems encountered in cancer treatment! The most important advantages of these devices are that they shorten the treatment time, increase the healing rates, and minimize tissue damage. This article will analyze the benefits and differences of these high technology devices in cancer treatment.

What are the Radiosurgery Treatments?

Radiosurgery, which is not a type of surgery, is a type of stereotactic radiotherapy. It is also named Gamma Knife, CyberKnife and TrueBeam therapy because of devices in radiosurgery. In addition, some technological devices are used in radiosurgery treatment. Now let's analyze these three basic radiosurgery methods closely.

CyberKnife

CyberKnife, is a robotic radiosurgery system. It is used in the treatment of cancerous tissues in various parts of the body and brain. It is a cancer treatment method applied using computer-controlled robot technology. With this device, tumors in the body can be surgically removed, and the damage to normal tissue by the rays is minimized while applying CyberKnife treatment.

CyberKnife, which has a wide usage area, is mainly used to treat brain tumors, lung cancers, prostate cancers, head and neck cancers, pancreatic cancers, and some diseases that cannot be treated with other methods.

Gamma Knife

Gamma knife, is a surgical method that allows neurosurgeons to perform surgery in abnormal areas of the brain without the need for any incision. It is applied using a technique called stereotactic radiosurgery. Gamma knife is a treatment system that allows the diseased brain tissue with specified coordinates to be destroyed with gamma rays.

What are the Differences Between CyberKnife and Gamma Knife?

· During Gamma Knife therapy, a metal frame is attached to the patient's head. This situation can make the patient anxious. Since such a situation is not observed during the CyberKnife treatment, the patient is more comfortable in CyberKnife surgery.

· Gamma Knife therapy requires anesthesia, but there is no need for it in CyberKnife treatment.

· CyberKnife examines every part of the body and applies radiation only to the tumor. However, Gamma Knife is limited only to the spine and brain.

· While high dose radiation is given during Gamma Knife therapy, a lower dose is applied during CyberKnife therapy. In this way, the tissues around the tumor are less affected.

TrueBeam

The TrueBeam therapy, is the newest generation radiotherapy technology, which is considered a revolution in cancer treatment. TrueBeam is used in Radiation Oncology to irradiate the tumor in every part of the body. It is generally used successfully in the treatment of tumors in hard-to-reach areas.

The feature that distinguishes TrueBeam from similar technologies is that it can apply higher doses in a much shorter time with its ability to reach a high dose rate. In this respect, it offers high-performance treatment processes that significantly reduce the number of sessions and duration.