Nowadays, not a day goes by without someone we know being diagnosed with cancer... The increasing number of diagnostic opportunities is an important reason for this. Now, people can apply to health institutions with the slightest
complaint, and cancer can be diagnosed in the early
period. As everyone knows, the most important factor of success in cancer treatment is; early diagnosis... In addition to the development of diagnostic techniques and increased accessibility to them, there are significant developments in treatments. In this way, we now provide significant increases in the survival of our cancer patients. With this long survival, we see metastases, that is, spread, more frequently in patients, which we saw less often before.
One of these; spine metastasis...
Spine metastasis is seen at very high rates of 30-40% in cancer patients
. We encounter these metastases most frequently in breast, prostate, thyroid, lung and kidney cancers. Patients first apply to us with pain and neurological findings (such as imbalance, difficulty in walking, numbness and weakness in the arms or legs).
Treatment options for spinal metastases
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The treatment goals for spinal metastases should be to relieve pain, protect neurological functions
and preserve spinal integrity. Surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of both treatments can be chosen for the treatment, depending on the appropriate patient. If the integrity of the spine is preserved (no fracture or slippage), radiotherapy is generally chosen. The purpose here
to eliminate pain and control the tumor in the spine... Unfortunately, inadequate pain and tumor control can be achieved with the doses applied in classical radiotherapy. The reason why the high doses required to obtain better results cannot be given here is due to the fear of damage to healthy tissues such as the spinal cord around the tumor and side effects. At this point, we prefer the robotic radiosurgery system Cyberknife, which is an option that can better treat spinal metastases.
As an important option; Cyberknife
Cyberknife robotic radiosurgery system was developed after 2000 and was introduced in America in 2004. It was approved in . Cyberknife, a revolutionary treatment option, can deliver high doses of radiation to spine metastases in 1 to 5 days with sub-millimeter precision, while protecting the surrounding healthy tissues. While planning this advanced technology treatment, the patient's tomography, magnetic resonance images and, if necessary, PET CT images are used. One of the reasons why it can perform such sensitive treatment is that the real position of the patient is constantly checked by taking continuous images during the treatment and the necessary corrections are made by the robot.
Pain and tumor. The control rate is very high
Cyberknife treatment of spinal metastases is outpatient, meaning that the patient
does not need to be hospitalized. There is no need for any anesthesia
and there is no intensive care process. After the treatment, the patient's pain subsides in a very short time and the patient can easily return to his daily activities. This
rapid application and response greatly improves the quality of life in cancer patients. Pain and
tumor control rates vary between 80-95% depending on the centres. After the treatment, the patient is followed up with MRI at 3-month intervals. If necessary, PET CT
is applied. Cyberknife is now a stand-alone treatment option or a complement to other treatments in spinal metastases.
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