Treatment procedures

What you will find in our partner's Radiosurgery Center

• Clinical competence: Our neurosurgeons and radiotherapists have decades-long experience in performing radiosurgery in Germany. In addition, we work in close collaboration with regional and national university hospitals to ensure an optimum treatment strategy tailored to each individual patient.
• Technical competence: As early as 1987, we pioneered the development of CyberKnife in cooperation with our partners. Our experience in robotic techniques and treatment planning is unparalleled worldwide.
• In addition to our caring atmosphere in a private healthcare setting, we offer a comprehensive range of oncological and radio-oncological care through close cooperation with regional and national universities, hospitals, clinics, doctors, health insurance funds, guest houses, hotels and many other institutions.

Important documents for rapid assessment

Enquiries for treatment

To enable us to reach a comprehensive decision within a short time about possible treatment in our radiosurgery centres, we require the following documentation:

• Referral form for neurosurgery, radiotherapy or radiosurgery
• Copy of your health insurance card
• Diagnostic findings and digital images of the most recent CT/MRT and PET-CT scan
• Past treatment records (e.g. operations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, alternative medicine, etc.)
• Histology (if available)
• Current medication plan (if any)
• Partial blood count (creatinine, TSH, if available)

You are best advised to contact your oncologist or family doctor, who will be pleased to assist in collecting all these supporting documents and in all probability already has the above findings at hand.

Personal treatment recommendation

If you do not have a treatment recommendation for your condition, we will gladly work together with our university and other collaborative partners in developing a personal treatment recommendation, based on your medical findings. Within a short time, your case will be assessed by our interdisciplinary expert team or our partner clinics in a tumour board meeting. We will provide you with an individualised and optimal treatment recommendation that takes account of all options, including CyberKnife and Gamma Knife treatments.

Examination of treatment recommendation

If you have already obtained a recommendation for radiosurgical treatment or require a second opinion, our doctors will be required to check this recommendation again. However, this process is normally very quick and within a short time we will be able to provide you a response about whether treatment with CyberKnife or Gamma Knife would be appropriate in your case.

Coverage of costs

If treatment with our CyberKnife or Gamma Knife is appropriate and feasible, you may make an application to your health insurance fund for the costs of your treatment to be covered. Our experienced team will be pleased to advise you about this procedure.

Pre-therapy consultation

Following a positive decision from your health insurance fund, we will soon invite you to a personal pre-therapy consultation at our centre. At this session, we will discuss in detail the possibilities, chances and risks of radiosurgical treatment, the individual steps in the treatment and further diagnostic imaging for planning purposes (CT, and if necessary, MRT, PET/PET-CT).

Planning of treatment

Planning of the treatment begins immediately after the diagnostic imaging. Based on your imaging data, our team of experienced doctors and medical physicists will define the optimum irradiation distribution for treatment of your condition.

Treatment procedure (CyberKnife)

The treatment itself is conducted in a fully automatic process. Aided by the tumour locating and compensation for respiratory movement, the linear accelerator will be precision guided by the robotic arm and the high-energy radiation beam will be directed safely at its target. Treatment with our CyberKnife system normally takes place in 1-5 sessions, each lasting on average 30-45 minutes. After the session, you will be able to leave the centre immediately.

Treatment procedure (Gamma Knife)

For precise delivery of irradiation with Gamma Knife, a “stereotactic frame” that serves as the positioning system must be placed on the head before treatment begins. The frame will be firmly attached to your head. This can occasionally lead to a pressure sensation, although pain itself is experienced in only exceptional cases. After the frame is in place, the diagnostic imaging and planning of treatment will commence immediately. Depending on indications, the actual treatment that follows lasts 30-120 minutes. After that, the frame will be removed and you can return to normal activity immediately.

Aftercare

Like with any medical treatment, regular check-ups to assess your health condition are recommended. Your personal aftercare is normally provided by our medical team at our centres or our partner clinics, depending on whichever for you is more convenient and practical.

Coverage of costs

When radiosurgical treatment with our CyberKnife or Gamma Knife would be appropriate in your case and you have decided on this treatment option, we will assist you in completing all the necessary steps regarding coverage of costs. Our Radiosurgery Centres have direct contracts for covering the costs of CyberKnife and Gamma Knife treatments with all private and many statutory health insurance funds.

If you are covered by a health insurance fund that has no contract with us for covering costs of treatment, we will be pleased to assist in applying for a one-time coverage of costs (one-time application for approval). Our team of experts, if requested, will contact your health insurance fund directly and explain why radiosurgery treatment is indicated in your case. For this, please contact us directly.

SilaMed will be happy to assist with your requirements.

Please note that SilaMed cannot provide any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not make recommendations in choosing a German medical provider – that is a decision that remains entirely up to you.