brain tumors: st. louis cyberknife treatment overview

1011 Bowles Ave. Suite G-50 Fenton, MO 63026 (636) 496-4660 www.stlouiscyberknife.com

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A brain tumor diagnosis can be scary. Learn more about brain tumors and how we can help. Please note: We encourage consumers to thoroughly review and understand all treatment op8ons. The informa8on presented here is not all-‐inclusive. Rather, it represents a star8ng point to learn more about medical condi8ons and treatment op8ons. There is no subs,tute for consul,ng a medical professional.


What is a brain tumor?

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain or the central spinal canal that can be cancerous or benign. Brain tumors, even malignant ones, are not necessarily fatal. However, any brain tumor should be considered a serious health condi;on. Brain tumors can be primary (origina;ng in the brain or spinal cord) or metasta<c (origina;ng in another part of the body and spreading to the brain).


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•  Headaches •  Vomi;ng •  Vision problems •  Altered states of consciousness •  Impaired judgment •  Memory loss •  Lack of recogni;on •  Spa;al orienta;on disorders

•  An impaired sense of touch, hearing, vision or smell

•  Personality or emo;onal changes •  Weakness on one side of the body or

facial paralysis •  Speech and language impairment •  Abnormal fa;gue •  Tremors or epilep;c seizures

What are symptoms of a brain tumor?


•  Acous<c Neuroma: A benign, slow-‐growing tumor type, acous;c neuromas affect the seventh and eighth cranial nerves in a part of the brain known as the cerebellar-‐pon;ne angle.

•  Brain Metastases: A brain metastasis is a brain tumor that develops from cancer cells

that spread from another cancerous tumor in the body, usually through the bloodstream. •  Glioma: A glioma is a class of tumor that develops from glial cells in the brain that

support and protect neurons. Astrocytes, ependymal, and oligodendroglial cells are all examples of glial cells. Includes: Astrocytoma, Glioblastoma Mul;forme, Glioma, Oligodendroglioma.

•  Meningioma: A benign tumor located on the brain surface rather than within brain

;ssue. •  Pituitary Adenoma: Located at the base of the skull, the pituitary gland serves as the

body’s control center for hormones. Pituitary adenomas are slow-‐growing, benign tumors within the gland.

What types of brain tumors exist?


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How does CyberKnife treat brain tumors? CyberKnife has the ability to treat acous;c neuromas, brain metastases, gliomas, meningiomas and pituitary adenomas with stereotac;c radiosurgery. The treatment process includes: I.  Consulta;on appointment II.  Pretreatment procedures III.  CyberKnife treatment IV.  Follow-‐up

Unlike some radiosurgery systems, the CyberKnife doesn’t use an invasive head frame. Other radiosurgery systems are capable of high-‐dose radia;on treatment with a variety of radia;on sources. However, some use a metal frame aTached to the pa;ent’s skull with screws that immobilizes the head to accurately target the tumor.


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Consulta<on and Pretreatment Procedures The St. Louis CyberKnife physicians, therapists and nurses are focused on your individualized treatment plan to determine whether CyberKnife is right for you: •  You will meet with a St. Louis CyberKnife radia;on oncologist to decide if CyberKnife

treatment is appropriate for your diagnosis. •  Your CyberKnife team will decide which pretreatment procedures you may need to help

develop your treatment plan. These could include a CT scan, an MRI, laboratory studies, or ;ssue markers.

•  The data from your pretreatment procedures will be used by the CyberKnife team to

determine the exact size, shape and loca;on of your tumor.

•  This informa;on will indicate the size of the area being treated with radia;on, the radia;on dose and cri;cal structures where radia;on exposure should be minimized.


CyberKnife Treatment Typically, treatment is completed in one session, but could take up to five sessions depending on the individual diagnosis. On the day of your treatment: 1.  A therapist will help you onto the treatment

table and fit the mask or body mold if needed. Pa;ents are observed throughout the treatment on closed-‐circuit television, and they can pause treatment at any ;me by waving or speaking to the technicians.

2.  While the CyberKnife’s advanced tracking system accounts for movements like breathing, you’re asked to lie s;ll during treatments. The system periodically takes x-‐ray images and compares them to the CT scan data to check that the radia;on beam is locked on the tumor.

3.  Pa;ents can usually go right back to their normal rou;nes once the treatment is complete.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION •  Treatment procedures take about 30 – 90

minutes, depending on the complexity of your tumor.

•  Pa;ents are asked to wear comfortable clothing during CyberKnife treatments. Jewelry is acceptable unless it is close to the area being treated.

•  Feel free to bring an iPod® or your favorite music CDs with you on the day of your treatment, and we will play them for you during the procedure.


Addi<onal Resources


Our Center St. Louis CyberKnife is a service of SSM Cancer Care, which is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer for its comprehensive cancer program. Our doctors are board-‐cer;fied in radia;on oncology and have several areas of specialty, including head and neck cancers and prostate, lung and breast cancers. Our CyberKnife nurse navigator is an integral part of our pa;ent care approach, providing clinical support and care coordina;on for our pa;ents and their families.

Connect with us

View a list of our radiation oncologists. Our Staff: CyberKnife Nurse Navigator: Vicki HartneT, RN OCN Site Administrator: Jennifer Moore, RN BSN OCN Physicist: Dr. Mark Pohlman, PhD DABR Dosimetrist: Insoo Moon CyberKnife Therapist: Susan Barnhart, RTT CyberKnife Therapist: Ryan Menke, RTT Opera<ons Coordinator: Andy Law


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brain tumors: st. louis cyberknife treatment overview

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