CyberKnife for Pancreatic Tumors

CyberKnife treats pancreatic cancer with high-dose radiation. Clinical studies are ongoing to test the CyberKnife’s effectiveness in treating localized, non-metastatic pancreatic cancer. However, preliminary results involving patients with relatively advanced cases of pancreatic cancer suggest that CyberKnife radiosurgery treatment is well tolerated and provides some clinical benefit.

Prior to treatment, doctors implant between three to five small metal markers known as fiducials in or near the tumor that enable the CyberKnife to pinpoint the tumor location throughout treatment. Implanting the markers is an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour. About a week later, patients are fitted with a custom body mold made of soft material that they lie on during treatments. The fitting process is painless. Patients then undergo a CT scan that assists in developing a customized treatment plan.