What is CyberKnife?

CyberKnife® is a new approach to stereotactic radiosurgery. In general, stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-surgical treatment that uses 3-D imagery to aim multiple radiation beams on a specific location inside the body in order to destroy a tumor. Stereotactic radiosurgery can precisely target tumors and avoid damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and structures. Unlike surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery destroys the tumor cells and stops the growth of the tumor without removing it. Other stereotactic radiosurgery systems require the use of an invasive head frame. The CyberKnife offers all of the advantages of stereotactic radiosurgery, without the need to have the patient secured to a head or body frame to control movement. Learn more about CyberKnife Treatment: "What to Expect".

How does CyberKnife work?

When you choose CyberKnife treatment at MedStar Franklin Square, you can rest assured that you're getting one of the most advanced treatments for cancer available. Unlike other radiosurgery therapy, our CyberKnife is equipped with a robotic arm with a wide range of motion that allows unparalleled access to inoperable and difficult-to-reach tumors.

Our CyberKnife system is also coupled with a revolutionary tracking technology called Synchrony. Throughout treatment, even the slightest movement, such as a patient's breathing, will cause tumor movement. By continuously tracking the position of the tumor and correcting for movement in real time, there is minimal radiation "spillover" to healthy surrounding tissue, including blood vessels, nerves and vital organs, giving you more reasons to breathe easy and relax. Watch a video about CyberKnife with Synchrony.

How many treatments will I need?

Patients at CyberKnife at MedStar Franklin Square typically complete treatment with less pain than traditional treatments in one to five sessions. With traditional radiation technologies, treatment may require as many as 40 sessions.

What kinds of tumors does CyberKnife successfully treat?

Since MedStar Franklin Square's CyberKnife can treat tumors-malignant and benign-anywhere in the body, doctors are able to reach previously untreatable or difficult-to-reach areas. CyberKnife experts at MedStar Franklin Square can successfully treat tumors in the head and brain, neck and spine, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas and prostate–and all without the stress and recovery time needed for surgery and traditional radiation therapy.

The FDA has approved CyberKnife for the treatment of tumors, both malignant and benign, located anywhere in the body. More than 90,000 patients have been treated with CyberKnife worldwide.

To make an appointment with one of our experienced CyberKnife specialists, please call 1-877-CYBER 01 (1-877-292-3701).