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CyberKnife radiosurgery delivers very precise beams of radiation to eliminate benign or malignant tumors, while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The decision to use CyberKnife certainly can provide advantages, but simply is not feasible for all patients. The optimal treatment plan for each patient may vary, depending several factors. Patients with advanced cancers may not always be ideal candidates. Medical staff members, such as oncologists or surgeons, serve as a valuable resource in determining suitable treatment.
An injury to the head such as a concussion requires a full neurological assessment. Such assessment is necessary to determine the extent of the injury. Once the assessment is complete and a diagnosis is made, the condition of the patient needs to be monitored by neuro checks. These checks provide a means of evaluating a patient's ongoing status, generally over the first 24 hours.
Radiotherapy first began in the early 20th century, when medical student Emil Grubbe convinced his professor to allow him to irradiate Rose Lee, a patient suffering from advanced breast cancer. Radiotherapy, or radiation therapy, uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and treat tumors, and between 50 and 60 percent of all cancer patients receive radiation treatment sometime during their disease, according to RadiologyInfo.org. Two inventions in the field of radiotherapy, the CyberKnife and Varian's Trilogy, have given oncologists a non-invasive way to treat tumors.
According to neurology.org, training in neuro-oncology is available as a subspecialty for doctors trained in adult and pediatric neurology, and for medical oncologists. Training programs are available as either one or two year programs in neuro-oncology.
The CyberKnife is a technologically advanced piece of robotic radiotherapy equipment used to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. According to CyberKnife manufacturer Accuray Incorporated, the noninvasive procedure accurately delivers beams of high-dose radiation directly to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
Cushing's triad is not related to Cushing's disease, although both are named after neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing. Cushing's triad is a combination of symptoms of that indicates increased intracranial pressure (ICP), a dangerous condition that should always be treated by medical professionals.
Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive primary brain tumors and usually grows in the cerebrum (also known as the cerebral cortex), which controls key functions such as movement, language, learning and memory. Surgery is the primary method of treatment for glioblastoma and is performed for the purpose of diagnosis, biopsy, tumor removal, application of chemotherapy in the form of brachtherapy (seed therapy, in which small radioactive seeds are implanted in order to fight the cancer as close to the site of the tumor as possible) or follow-up treatment in the event of the tumor returning (recurrent glioblastoma). The key…
Liver tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Benign tumors are somewhat common and usually do not show any symptoms, although some can cause enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly). An alternative to surgery is a minimally invasive treatment called radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA).
Radiation is a main form of treatment for brain tumors. It might be used on its own or in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy. The type of radiation you receive is based on a number of factors, and your doctor or treatment team will decide on the most appropriate course of treatment. Radiation uses high-energy particles to kill tumor cells.
While being diagnosed with a tumor will always be frightening, the treatments of many cancerous tumors have improved dramatically over the last few decades. Traditional treatments have been combined with alternative methods to treat tumors more holistically. As time goes on, more alternative methods may be discovered to improve the outlook for cancer patients.
Brain tumors are masses of abnormal cells in the brain. They can be benign or cancerous. Brain tumors can begin in the brain or other parts of the body before spreading to the brain. Brain tumor symptoms include frequent headaches, changes in speech, nausea, sudden changes in vision, confusion, personality changes, hearing problems and hormonal disorders.
CyberKnife is a robotic radio-surgery tool created by surgery experts at Stanford University and the Schonberg Research Corporation. It is manufactured and distributed by Accuray, a company at the forefront of robotics and radiation technology. CyperKnife is used to control cancerous tumors, usually in the brain and spine, without invasive surgery. This alternative to traditional surgery accurately locates tumors and delivers concentrated amounts of radiation to them without damaging healthy tissue.
Schwannomas are tumors that grow within a nerve. These neural tumors arise from the fibers inside the nerve called schwann cells, rather than from the nerve sheath where other neural tumors arise. Schwannomas are extremely slow-growing, taking years to become large enough to feel or see. Schwannomas usually occur randomly. However, there is a condition called von Recklinghausen's disease that can cause schwannomas to grow throughout the body. Doctors can diagnose von Recklinghausen's disease by physical examination combined with body scans. Often, schwannomas become very large before a patient notices any ill effects from them. Treatments for schwannoma depend on…
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are tumors located inside the sheath of a nerve. These tumors are a type of soft-tissue sarcoma. To treat these tumors, a patient sees an oncologist and a neurosurgeon, though a neurosurgeon may also specialize in oncology or have extensive experience in the area to ensure the best possible treatment. Also, patients can benefit greatly from being treated by medical teams that specialize in soft-tissue sarcomas. Treatment of MPNST often involves several steps, depending on the location of the tumor, type of sarcoma, other patient circumstances and overall health.
Pilocytic astrocytoma is a low-grade, benign brain tumor most commonly found in children ages 5 to 15. It is a slow-growing noninvasive type of tumor arising from astrocytes, but it can become quite large. Astrocytomas arises from astrocytes, which are star-shaped glial cells found throughout the central nervous system. This tumor is often associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic disorder that results in multiple or recurrent tumors, especially of the optic nerve.
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive of brain tumors. There is no cure for the illness, and although mortality rates remain high, research and studies are being done. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery can prolong a patient's life.
