Boston, MA ?Physicians at Boston Medical Center (BMC) are now offering patients an alternative to surgery for hard to reach tumors. The CyberKnife?Robotic Radiosurgery System is a non-invasive treatment for benign or cancerous tumors located nearly anywhere in the body. The treatment ?which delivers high doses of radiation to destroy tumors with extreme accuracy ?offers new hope to patients who have inoperable or surgically complex tumors. BMC has the most advanced Cyberknife equipment in Boston.

The Cyberknife uses image-guidance and computer controlled robotics to deliver multiple beams of high-energy radiation to the tumor from virtually any direction. Designed to treat tumors with sub-millimeter accuracy, the Cyberknife tracks the tumor’s position, detects any tumor or patient movement and automatically corrects the treatment delivery. This outpatient procedure is pain free, and does not require anesthesia or invasive stabilizing frames. Most patients experience minimal recovery time and can return to normal activities following their treatment. Depending on the tumor’s type, size and location, many patients need only one treatment with the Cyberknife to destroy their tumor.

“Compared to traditional brain surgery, treatment with the Cyberknife provides patients with a faster recovery time with little or no side effects,?said Lawrence Chin, MD, chief of the department of neurosurgery at BMC and chairman and professor of neurosurgery at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM). Chin has many years of experience in radiosurgery, and is one of six BMC surgeons trained in the use of the Cyberknife. In addition to brain tumors, vascular malformations and certain other benign conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia can be treated. The Cyberknife can also treat primary or recurrent tumors in the spine, head and neck, lung, liver and pancreas and prostate.

“Since the Cyberknife System allows us to deliver such a high doses of targeted radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy, the tumor’s surrounding healthy tissue is subjected to very minimal harm,?said Lisa Kachnic, MD, chief of radiation oncology at BMC and an associate professor of radiology and assistant professor of medicine at BUSM.

Patients interested in learning more about BMC’s Cyberknife program should call the BMC Health Connection at 1-877-930-2288.

For more information, please visit www.bmc.org/cyberknife.