Frequently Asked Questions   /   Cancer Treatment Options   /   Radiation Therapy

CyberKnife for Bone Metastases

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Last Modified: July 27, 2007

Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"

Is there any information on the use of CyberKnife to treat bone metastases in the chest area [that are] associated with recurrent NSCLC?

Carolyn Vachani RN, MSN, AOCN, OncoLink's Nurse Educator, responds:

There have been quite a few studies using CyberKnife for spinal metastases (vertebral bones), mostly because this system is very helpful in sparing the spinal cord from unwanted irradiation. In some cases, it may also allow for re-treatment with re-irradiation of the same area, which is generally not done due to spinal cord tolerance constraints.

However, there is nothing in the published medical literature specifically on bone metastases in the chest area being treated with CyberKnife, likely because this body site can be effectively treated by conventional radiation therapy methods.