Accuray CyberKnife image-guided radiosurgical system.

Radiosurgery is the application of radiation therapy in an extremely precise manner. These techniques apply large bioequivalent doses of radiation to a small area in order to destroy tumor cells, while sparing surrounding normal tissues. Radiosurgery has been available for intracranial abnormalities since the 1950s but it has only recently become available to treat tumors outside of the brain and skull base. This article outlines the authors experience with CyberKnife in the treatment of spinal and spine-associated abnormalities.