When you are diagnosed with any brain injury or case, doctors will generally ask you to do some stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This is a treatment where they use high doses of radiation to the tumor or the area affected by cancer. Like other forms of radiation, SRS makes sure that they do not affect healthy tissues and focus only on damaging the DNA of the affected cells. By doing this treatment, the cell will lose the power to reproduce, thus reducing the tumor and killing cancer. Thus, SRS is a highly recommended treatment option if a patient is diagnosed with a brain tumor or other damage to the head.

There are many types of SRS treatments and gamma knife and cyberknife are two popular SRS treatments. Both these treatment options are quite similar but there are many differences. So, understand the difference and find the treatment that is suitable for you.

What is Gamma Knife?

This is a highly effective radiation therapy that focuses high-dosage radiation to the affected area. Since this therapy is highly focused, it will affect only cancerous cells, making sure that the healthy tissues are not affected.

This therapy has lower side effects. Since they are non-invasive, they do not have risks like traditional brain surgeries. Also, they have less pain compared to the surgeries. Their recovery period is also small.

What is CyberKnife?

This radiation treatment treats tumors by sending photons to the targeted area or tumor. One of its huge benefits is that you do not have to do it many times. Within a few radiations, you will be able to eliminate or shrink the tumor.

CyberKnife can reach out to any area of the brain and access treatment from many positions as it has a movable robotic arm. It also ensures that the healthy tissue is not affected by the treatments.

Difference between Gama Knife and CyberKnife

Even though they may sound similar, they have some difference that needs to be addressed. That includes:

Difference in specificity

Even though both these SRS treatments are highly recommended to treat cancer tumors, they differ in specificity. Both gamma Knife and cyberknife are minimally invasive. But the former treatment is more targeted and specific. Since any treatment in the brain area is critical, precision and specificity are crucial.

Treating tumors on different parts

Gamma Knife is most commonly used to treat tumors on the head and brain. But with the newer Gamma treatments, you can also treat some cervical spine tumors. But CyberKnife can be used to treat tumors on any body part.

Comfort and restrictions

When the patient is undergoing Gamma Knife treatment, they have to wear a headframe, that restricts the movement of the patient. But with cyberknife, you do not have to use a headframe, making it more flexible and comfortable. So, learn about both of these SRS treatments and find the right one for you.