Onkologie. 2011:5(2):83-86

Stereotactic irradiation of the spine and spinal cord using the CyberKnife system

Jakub Cvek, Lukáš Knybel, Břetislav Otáhal, David Feltl

Onkologická klinika, FN Ostrava

Benign and malignant tumours of the spine and spinal cord are frequent findings and cause major morbidity (pain and neurological

deficit) which significantly impairs the quality of life. The incidence of metastatic skeletal disease is approximately 6,500 new cases per

year in the Czech Republic and, given a longer survival rate than that observed in the case of visceral metastases, it poses a major health

problem. The treatment for spinal tumours usually requires a multidisciplinary approach. In some cases, a complete removal is possible

whereas sometimes decompression is all that can be done. Conventional external radiotherapy is commonly limited by the tolerance

dose of the spinal cord, which may result in inadequate local control. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using the CyberKnife system is

distinguished from external fractionated radiotherapy by the use of multiple convergent fields which allow delivery of a high dose of

radiation to the target volume while sparing the surrounding structures. Intracranial SRS has been used for a relatively long time with

a single high dose of radiation being delivered (in the order of tens of Gy). In extracranial sites, the use of a few fractions (2–5) has been

shown as more convenient which is why the term radiosurgery has proved as not quite adequate. In the English literature, the term

SBRT (Stereotactic body radiotherapy) is being increasingly replaced by the term Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) which

accurately reflects the true nature of this method.

Keywords: SBRT, radiosurgery, spinal tumours

Published: April 1, 2011  Show citation