Healthcare | Tuesday 16 June, 2015 8:51 am |

Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s foremost healthcare provider, is reinforcing its pre-eminence as a centre of healthcare innovations by introducing ‘Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery’ to its international patient community based in the GCC region. Over 200,000 foreign patients from over 120 countries have been successfully treated for various illnesses at Apollo Hospitals.
Dr. Rathna Devi, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist of Apollo Hospitals, explains, “The name Cyberknife might give people the notion that it involves knives and scalpels. As an outpatient procedure, it requires minimal to zero recovery time so patients can easily return to their regular activities, even if what was treated is as sensitive as a brain tumor”.
A pain-free, non-invasive alternative for surgically complex and terminal tumors, the Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery System gives new light to patients as its non-invasive frameless procedure precisely treats benign and malignant tumors of all shapes and sizes. Compared to the traditional tumor surgery, this method involving robotic radiotherapy is more accurate and precise as it delivers sub-millimetre precision with beams of high dose radiation from non-coplanar, isocentric, or non-isocentric angles.
Unlike the traditional radiosurgery techniques, the Cyberknife does not involve stereotactic frames. It also has two elements: a radiation from a small linear particle accelerator called Linac, mounted on a robotic arm directing energy to various parts of the body. The latter is flexible, enabling the Cyberknife to precisely and accurately deliver radiations to any part of the body.
“This innovation eliminates the need for the uncomfortable stabilizing frames on the patients’ heads. It’s a great alternative to surgery as the patient doesn’t go under the knife. It’s in line with our mission to make surgeries pain-free and minimally-invasive”, Dr. Devi adds.
The Cyberknife system targets the exact location of a tumor in any part of the body: brain, spine, heart, breasts, liver, and prostate, among others. Its software utilizes advanced imaging capability that helps in tumor tracking as it rigorously and accurately delivers high levels of radiation treatment.
The Cyberknife system is a team approach composed of specialists: neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, medical physicist, radiation therapist, among other medical support staff. The patient lies on table with custom-fitted face mask as the computer-controlled robotic arm delivers radiation beams as it moves around various locations in the body.

“During surgeries or treatments, it is virtually impossible to completely eliminate the movement of internal anatomy. The Cyberknife minimizes the radiation exposure and the side-effects of surgery. According to previous patients who have undergone this treatment, they experienced no or very less side effects. The typical treatment is completed for at most five days and most, if not all, Cyberknife patients testify to a completely pain-free experience”, comments Dr. Devi.
However, the Cyberknife surgery requires follow-up medical appointments and will not make the tumor completely disappear. As the treatment’s results varies from patient to patient, majority of the results are positive. Months or years of medical appointments and monitoring are requisites after the treatment.
Earlier this year, a rare case of central nervous system tumor was successfully treated in Chennai, India. A 73 year old man was diagnosed with ‘chordoma’, a rare type of cancer in the bones of the skull and spine. Factors like age and tumor location did not allow him to undergo traditional surgery. According to his follow up appointment after five Cyberknife treatments late last year, the man now shows no signs of disease.
Apollo Hospitals is a major referral centre for minimally invasive surgeries and receives a large number of patients from all over the world looking for affordable, superior quality medical care along with less waiting time and zero to minimal hospitalization. It is a major referral centre for minimally invasive surgeries and receives a large number of patients from all over the world looking for affordable, superior quality medical care along with less waiting time and minimum hospital stay.