Melanoma metastatic to the spine frequently recurs after conventional radiation therapy – a situation which has traditionally left only radical spine surgery or uncontrolled pain and neurologic complications as the inevitable outcome. CyberKnife® radiosurgery creates a new paradigm for these patients, providing an impressive 96% response rate as reported by Gersten, et al, for patients with spinal melanoma metastases, the large majority of which have been durable (21).
Tight Dose Margin with CyberKnife Image adapted from "Robotic Radiosurgery" - First Edition
Written by Donald B. Fuller, M.D. – Radiation Oncologist