The safety and efficacy of robotic image-guided radiosurgery system treatment for intra- and extracranial lesions: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Background: The CyberKnife is a new, frameless stereotactic radiosurgery system. This work reviews its safety and efficacy in the treatment of intra- and extracranial lesions.

Methods: A literature search was made of the Medline, Embase, Pascal Biomed, CINAHL and Cancerlit databases. Health technology assessment reports on stereotactic radiosurgery systems were also consulted. All searches were made in June 2007. Data on efficacy and safety were extracted and then synthesized into the present review.

Results: Thirty five clinical studies were identified, the majority of which included no patient comparison group. These studies assessed the use of the CyberKnife mainly in the treatment of primary and metastatic intracranial and spinal tumours.

Conclusions: The CyberKnife system allows to carry out standard radiosurgical and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy procedures. The use of this system offers an alternative for the treatment of inoperable tumours, and of lesions located close to critical structures that cannot be treated using other types of stereotactic radiosurgery system. Unfortunately, the quality of the reviewed papers still does not allow definite conclusions to be drawn regarding the safety and efficacy of these treatments.