CyberKnife: What Does It Treat?

Lung tumors, prostate cancer, and brain tumors are among our center’s most frequently treated diseases, yet CyberKnife^® can also treat other diseases with stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM): AVMs are abnormal connections between arteries and veins that commonly occur in the brain and spine. Blood typically enters the brain through arteries, moves to capillaries and into veins. When an AVM forms, blood moves from arteries to veins, bypassing capillaries and creating a risk of rupture, which can cause bleeding into the brain or spine. According to the American Stroke Association, AVMs occur in less than 1 percent of the general population and are more common in males than females. Read more about AVMs here.

Kidney Cancer: Kidney cancer is uncommon in patients under 45; however, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 65,000 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed this year. The average age of people who are diagnosed with kidney cancer is 64. Read about recent research on treating kidney cancer with SBRT here.

Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. More than 45,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed this year, according to the ACS. Common risk factors for the disease include smoking, advanced age and certain genetic conditions. Read more about pancreatic cancer here.

Liver Cancer: Liver cancer occurs more commonly in Africa and Asia than in the U.S., and more than 90 percent of cases are diagnosed in patients over 45. Though more common in men than women, liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Read more about liver cancer here.

Ocular/Orbital Tumors: Cancers of the eye commonly occur in people over 50. Most eye cancers begin as melanomas, or malignant tumors of melanocytes, which produce dark pigmentation in the skin and eyes. However, some develop as lymphomas, which develop in the blood. Sun exposure and eye color and certain genetic conditions can increase risk of the disease. Read more about eye cancer here.

This is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your health care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.