CyberKnife precisely aims radiation beams at the AVM from multiple angles. Over time, the radiation causes the AVM blood vessels to narrow and eventually close off, eliminating the risk of hemorrhage or stroke. The primary advantage over surgical removal is that radiosurgery is not invasive, does not require anesthesia or a hospital stay and doesn’t carry the risks of open surgery. Moreover, some AVMs are located in areas of the brain that cannot be treated with conventional surgery. In those cases, radiosurgery may be the only feasible treatment option.

CyberKnife differs from other radiosurgery systems in that it doesn’t require a rigid metal frame screwed to the patient’s skull for targeting tumors and immobilizing patients. The CyberKnife achieves highly accurate targeting with computer imaging that continuously updates the tumor location and, therefore, eliminates the need for a metal frame.