Abnormal tissue growths in the structures surrounding the eyes are the orbital tumors. Arising from the orbit, these tumors spread to other parts depending upon whether they are benign or malignant. These tumors may include vascular lesions, neurogenic tumors, cysts, secondary tumors, and lymphomas. While some patients develop symptoms gradually, many others experience a rapid onset of the same. If the tumors arise from structures of the brain, they are called intracranial tumors. These structures may include meninges or cranial nerves that are present within the brain. Intracranial tumors may cause death or neurologic dysfunction irrespective of whether they are benign or malignant.
Treating intracranial tumors with a cyberknife system
Cyberknife system utilizes advanced technology to deliver intensified radiation towards the target tumor. It has a robotic arm that detects normal movements like breathing or coughing. This arm is movement-specific and delivers radiations from different angles. It targets the highly focused radiations towards the tumor and destroys the cancerous lesions. An advantage of the Cyberknife system is that it spares the surrounding normal tissues that may include vital organs like orbit or cranial nerves.
Choosing Cyberknife Radiosurgery to treat intracranial or orbital tumors
Being an advanced radiation technique, Cyberknife radiosurgery offers precision and accuracy that no other method can. It delivers high radiation doses to the various tumors present in the body. It is a non-invasive procedure and hence, is painless. The precision that this procedure offers gave it the term ‘radiosurgery’. However, there is no involvement of a knife or no presence of cuts and incisions for this procedure. The robotic arm emits a narrow high-energy radiation beam towards the target lesion by moving around the patient. While tumors in some areas cannot be treated with conventional radiation techniques, Cyberknife Radiosurgery makes it possible to treat tumors effectively.
FAQs
The side effects of Cyberknife Radiosurgery may be increased intracranial pressure, seizures, necrosis, vomiting, edema, orthostatic hypotension, nausea, and headache.
The radiations are targeted on the entire brain while treating intracranial tumors with conventional radiation therapy. Contrary to this, the radiation is targeted specifically at the tumor while treating it with the Cyberknife system.
Tumors that are in the large of 5 mm and 60 mm can be treated with Cyberknife Radiosurgery. However, malignant tumors will not be destroyed and there will only be a reduction in the symptoms.
The success rate of Cyberknife Radiosurgery in treating an intracranial or orbital tumor is around 97%. However, the results may vary depending upon the type of tumor and its severity.
A person requires a few weeks or around 2 months to recover from the tumor after a Cyberknife Radiosurgery.