Stanford CyberKnife Program

Globally recognized for the invention of the CyberKnife, the Stanford Radiosurgery Program brings together expert neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and physicists, to continue development of innovative stereotactic radiosurgical technology and techniques. Our team focuses the development, implementation, and clinical testing of these minimally invasive surgical tools for a variety of tumors. While the CyberKnife is commonly used for treatment of tumors in the brain, base of the skull, and the spine, Stanford physicians are also using this technology to treat cancers of the pancreas, prostate, and lungs. In addition, in conjunction with advanced 3D imaging, we are seeking to advance the use of the CyberKnife to treat a host of disorders - from neurological disorders, such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), acoustic neuromas, trigeminal neuralgia, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder – to back pain, and high blood pressure. Our early results have been encouraging and our advances in this field could provide patients, especially high-risk surgery candidates, new therapy options. 

Conditions We Treat

The CyberKnife's special quality is that it tracks tumor movement whether from breathing or other patient motion. Its beam delivery arm reacts with minute precision to real-time images of the tumor. No radiation is sent out when the tumor moves out of the beam, protecting healthy tissue. At Stanford, CyberKnife is used to treat a variety of tumors or lesions, including:

  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Astrocytoma/Glioma/GMA
  • Chordoma
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Hemangioblastoma
  • Meningioma
  • Nasopharynx
  • Oligodendroglioma/Medulloblastoma
  • Pituitary Adenoma (Cushing's Disease)
  • Schwannoma
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Other benign and primary tumors

Featured Patient

Tom Stienstra’s ‘Tales of Survival’ wins Outdoor Writers award

Stienstra fought cancer that was first discovered in his lungs and then in his brain. After five brain surgeries and immunotherapy infusions, doctors are optimistic with his progress. Photo credit: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle.

Support Groups

We know our patients need additional support beyond clinical care. We offer patients and their loved ones a variety of support groups, including a Cancer Caregiver Support Group, Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group, and many more.

CyberKnife developed at Stanford in 1994
 

10,000+ patients treated with CyberKnife at Stanford

More than 1 million patients treated with CyberKnife worldwide

Expertise in

· brain disorders
· acoustic neuromas
· AVMs
· meningiomas
· trigeminal neuralgia
 

Flexible Frameless System

  • The CyberKnife precise tumor tracking ability allows treatment without rigid fixation
  • The CyberKnife can deliver radiosurgery by tracking and automatically adjusting for patient motion by synchronizing with it
  • Radiation can be delivered with sub-millimeter accuracy anywhere in the body

Treat Intracranial and Extra-Cranial Sites

  • A proven treatment for brain disorders: tumors, AVMs, trigeminal neuralgia, and movement disorders
  • Ability to treat head and neck tumors, and tumors of the lung, breast, spine, liver, pancreas, kidney and prostate
  • Proven results through numerous peer reviewed publications over the last three decades

State of the Art Treatment Planning

  • The CyberKnife allows multi-modality image fusion
  • Steep dose gradients allow the target to be treated while minimizing the dose to healthy tissues
  • The CyberKnife S7 treatment planning software is built for speed with extremely fast treatment plan optimization

Improved Patient Experience

  • CyberKnife S7 delivers fast, less invasive treatments for patients, improving their experience
  • Increased patient satisfaction due to proven results
  • Improved patient quality of life through the treatment of tumors that cannot be safely treated with other modalities