What is Edge radiosurgery?
Edge™ radiosurgery is a non-invasive radiation therapy that eliminates tumors without surgery. It delivers high doses of external radiation beams that are shaped to the precise dimensions of your tumor. It can treat both cancerous (malignant) and non-cancerous (benign) tumors, though it’s primarily used for cancer treatment. It damages the DNA of cancer cells to eliminate them, while minimizing damage to nearby healthy cells.
An essential part of the Edge radiosurgery system is its ability to generate sophisticated 3-D images that visualize the size, shape, and location of tumors with sub-millimeter accuracy. These images help place radiation at the exact spot of the tumor to inform your treatment plan. Edge radiosurgery offers an effective alternative to conventional surgery with fewer side effects.
At Penn Medicine, our multidisciplinary team of radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists (who specialize in radiation dosing levels), and radiation technicians, work together to pinpoint the area to apply radiation, specify radiation dosage, and create a schedule for treatment. Our board-certified radiation experts are specially trained to maximize the effects of radiation on cancer while reducing exposure to healthy tissues. Our goal is to provide you with individualized care to produce the best possible treatment outcomes.
Who is a candidate for Edge radiosurgery?
Edge radiosurgery can be used to treat tumors anywhere in the body where radiation is indicated. It’s particularly useful for treating complex or hard-to-reach tumors where surgery is challenging.
While it may be used to treat a variety of cancerous or noncancerous tumors, it’s often used to treat the following types of cancer:
What to expect during your Edge radiosurgery treatment
Edge radiosurgery treatment is an outpatient procedure that may take place in a clinic or hospital. It usually involves multiple short treatments. Your care team will provide you with a personalized treatment schedule.
- You’ll be positioned on a treatment table in a comfortable position near the Edge radiosurgery system.
- While you lie on the table, a machine will rotate around you 360 degrees. At the same time, live imaging provides your doctor with a view of your tumor from every angle.
- High-dose, external radiation beams will be precisely delivered to the identified treatment area. This process usually lasts less than 20 minutes, though times may vary. It is pain free.
- After the radiation treatment is complete, your doctor may recommend a short period of rest before returning to your regular daily activities.
Edge radiosurgery side effects and recovery
After treatment, you may experience dryness, itchiness, soreness, or other sensitivity in the treated area. Some nausea and fatigue are also possible. Your care team will provide you with follow-up care to monitor your progress and recovery and be sure you are comfortable.
Long-term side effects may depend on the area of the body that received treatment. Your doctor will answer any questions you have about likely side effects related to your specific case and the area of the body that was treated.
Why choose Penn Medicine for Edge radiosurgery?
Edge radiosurgery is one of several radiosurgery therapies offered at Penn Medicine, including Gamma Knife® treatment. These advanced radiosurgery techniques deliver highly precise doses of external radiation to targeted areas of your body and have fewer side effects than conventional surgery.
Our radiation oncologists, radiation physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, and radiation oncology nurses have an international reputation for excellence in radiation therapy. These teams offer the most up-to-date treatment options for people who have tumors that can be treated with radiation. Our doctors also participate in research and clinical trials aimed at improving treatment effectiveness and patients’ quality of life. Using their insight and experience, our doctors provide safe, effective treatment and offer individualized treatment plans for your care that deliver the best possible outcomes.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.
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