Sponsored by Accuray

Presented by Michael Taylor, PhD
Accuray

Live Session:
Monday, August 18, 2025
1:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern Time

The recorded session will be available within 24 hours of the live session. The recorded session needs to be completed by Wednesday, September 17, 2025, to earn CE credits.

This presentation will provide a comprehensive examination of evolution, current practices, and future directions in brain tumor treatment, with a particular emphasis on CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery. Beginning with a historical overview, it traces the development of brain tumor management from ancient medical practices to modern advancements in imaging, surgery, and radiation therapy. The classification of brain tumors—benign vs. malignant, primary vs. metastatic—is discussed alongside traditional treatment modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, and conventional radiation, highlighting their limitations in invasiveness and side effects.

The core focus is on CyberKnife, a state-of-the-art, non-invasive robotic radiosurgery system that delivers high-precision radiation using real-time imaging synchronized to a multi-jointed robotic arm. The presentation will detail how CyberKnife operates, its clinical advantages, and its effectiveness in treating inoperable or anatomically complex tumors. Technical aspects such as motion management, dose optimization, and the integration of AI tools, for example, Brainlab, are explored, along with case studies demonstrating clinical outcomes.

Further, the presentation will delve into the mechanics of modern robotic systems, including the use of a 6MV FFF linear accelerator mounted on a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, capable of sub-millimeter targeting accuracy. It explains how the feature-rich anatomy of the human skull is used to calculate and correct for patient movement during treatment, ensuring continuous real-time adaptation. The presentation also covers treatment planning strategies for primary brain tumors, metastases, and functional disorders, emphasizing how robotic systems enhance patient comfort and therapeutic precision.

The presentation will conclude with a forward-looking perspective, envisioning the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI), personalized medicine, and broader accessibility to robotic radiosurgery, which positions CyberKnife as a cornerstone of future neuro-oncological care.

Learner Outcomes:

1. Describe the evolution of radiation therapy for intracranial lesions and indications.
2. Explain the characteristics, benefits and indications of use of robotic radiosurgery.
3. Discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological advancements are changing the future of intracranial radiosurgery

Educational Level: Intermediate

Presenter:
Michael Taylor, PhD, has worked as a medical physicist at Accuray Incorporated for the past 17 years. His areas of expertise are focused on many aspects of clinical support including medical physics, treatment planning and delivery, product implementation and adoption, and new product development for the helical and robotic radiation delivery systems: TomoTherapy, Radixact, and CyberKnife. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and Physics. His PhD thesis demonstrated the feasibility of a compact, electronically driven neutron generator for various applications, including neutron imaging, radiation effects testing, and boron and gadolinium neutron capture therapy. Michael’s passions in radiotherapy include training for advanced radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery techniques, aiding in streamlining clinical workflows for efficient treatments and QA, and considerations for less common treatment indications, particularly for palliative care, pain management, and increased patient comfort.

This activity is part of the celebration of National Medical Dosimetrist's Day and is free to AAMD members and non-members. Once you have logged in, it will display as FREE and will not count against the annual CE credit allowance for Members.