Mallory McLean holds up the mask she wore while undergoing CyberKnife treatment for a brain tumor: Photo by Dirk Shadd
Developed at Stanford University three decades ago, the CyberKnife System is one of the earliest adoptions of artificial intelligence in medicine. It’s a specialized and effective way to treat challenging tumors — like those in the brain.
Here’s how it works, what the system means for patients and why it matters.
When tumors form in the brain, surgeons face a daunting task in the operating room.
The growths are often entrapped in clusters of arteries and nerves that control a person’s ability to see, hear, move and breathe. Error can result in paralysis and death.
The operations are risky. But CyberKnife helps minimize the likelihood that something will go wrong. Using the machine, doctors can zap away bits of tumor using highly targeted radiation after surgery. That means surgeons can be more conservative when making cuts — they can leave remnants of tumors behind.
Artificial intelligence is able to map the brain, or another part of the body, to find the best path to the tumor cells. When the tumor is hit from different, highly calculated angles, the unhealthy tissue is exposed over and over again, while healthy tissue avoids the repeated exposure.
And CyberKnife eliminates the higher risk of injury or error if a surgeon were to attempt it by hand.
“It does it independently, and it does it better than any human can deliver radiation,” radiation oncologist Dr. Brain Collins states.
Because of the degree of accuracy, this type of therapy can be used to treat a broader range of patients than those who were treated by radiation in the past. Dr. Collins says, “The procedure is far less invasive. Previously, radiation oncologists had to keep a patients head still during treatment by using a heavy metal frame screwed into their skull to prevent movement.”
Because the treatment is noninvasive, it can be administered over several sessions. That lessens the side effects and protects the brain stem and facial nerve from damage.
A Robotic Remedy:
The CyberKnife system is used to treat tumors almost any where in the body, incluing lung and spine tumors. More recently, CyberKnife experts are using it to treat neurologic conditions like tremors, and mental health conditions like depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.
CyberKnife can spare many pateints from surgery altogether, destorying tumors without cutting into the brain.
In Mallory’s case, her tumor did have to be surgically removed and then she had 5 CyberKnife treatment sessions to kill any traces of the tumor and cancerous cells, and her tumor is gone.
Story by Lauren Peace, Tampa Bay Times staff