Robotic Radiosurgery Promising for Lung Tumors

A new procedure for patients with lung tumors who are not candidates for surgery or chemotherapy uses an image-guided robotic surgery system and motion-tracking equipment that enables doctors to target tumors with more precision.

The robotic system, called Cyberknife, is being used at the Cleveland Clinic (OH, USA) under an investigational device exemption from the U.S. Food and Drug AdminIstration (FDA). To date, 10 patients have been treated with dynamic single-fraction radiosurgery using Cyberknife, with encouraging results. An initial feasibility trial was completed in March, and a phase I trial is now under way. Cyberknife is the product of Accuray (Sunnyvale, CA, USA).

"The Cyberknife is capable of destroying lung tumors in a noninvasive way while preserving nearby lung,” said Richard Crownover, M.D., head of the general thoracic surgery section at the Cleveland Clinic, who is participating in the trial.





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