Radiotherapy Using CyberKnife Technology in Israel

Professor Novil Berkman

Pulmonologist

At the Top Ichilov Medical Center, the latest radiation therapy methods are actively used, representing a modern development of CyberKnife technology - radiotherapy using the advanced linear accelerator Synergy S and RapidArc technology. Specialists at the medical center note the promising and high efficiency of this method.

Radiotherapy using a linear accelerator equipped with a 3D imaging CT device is one of the most advanced radiation therapy techniques. Currently, this treatment method is the safest and most effective for treating tumor pathologies.

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30%

of diagnoses made in CIS countries are found to be incorrect at the Top Ichilov clinic

82%

successful cases of treatment with conservative methods

1230

procedures using the modern "Da Vinci" system

Until recently, when treating malignant diseases with radiation therapy, the entire body was subjected to exposure, and all tissues and organs received a dose of radiation. This type of treatment negatively affected the overall condition of the patient: nausea occurred, hair loss was observed, and the liver, kidneys, hematopoietic system, etc. suffered. Moreover, the volume of the lesion did not play a significant role; a small tumor was subjected to the same radiation as extensive tumors complicated by metastases.

Thanks to the diligent work of oncologists and their desire to find more gentle methods of cancer treatment, the method of targeted radiation of the tumor was developed - CyberKnife, which has now been replaced in Israel by the latest generation of linear accelerators.

The use of a linear accelerator allows for even more precise targeting only on the cancer-affected organ, without affecting regional organs and tissues. This targeted approach enables the application of much larger doses of radiation than usual. At the same time, the overall condition of the patient's body is not affected, and the patient does not experience side effects from the therapy.

Stages of the IMAT Procedure

Since 2008, radiologists at Top Ichilov have been implementing the most advanced radiation therapy technology based on the use of linear accelerators - IMAT (Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy). The procedure's action is limited to the tumor itself. This precision is ensured by the robotic radiosurgery navigation system MLC with a high resolution of 4 mm. High doses of ionizing radiation are directed by the system only at the atypical cells of the tumor. During the procedure, the system accounts for possible human movements (breathing, involuntary, voluntary) and adjusts the beam direction. The reaction speed is so fast that deviations from the target are not observed.

To determine the tumor's localization, the patient undergoes a series of examinations (MRI, PET, CT, etc.). The examination data is uploaded to the computer system. The system processes the received data, designs access to the area of impact, programs the doses, and determines the location of the irradiator, thus fully programming the treatment.

The irradiator is a special manipulator of the robot that directs beams at the malignant tumor from various angles. Beam displacement is only possible at the program's initiative and in accordance with the patient's unconscious movements, while automated control over the patient's position responds to movement in fractions of a second, completely excluding even brief exposure of healthy tissues.

Thanks to the use of a linear accelerator, which has replaced CyberKnife in Israel, and the ability to apply high doses, the course of cancer treatment is reduced several times. For small tumors, a single procedure is often sufficient. Immediately after the procedure, the patient can leave the medical facility.

Specialists at the Top Ichilov medical center note another advantage of the system: it allows for effective treatment of metastases, regardless of their location.

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