Elmhurst-based cancer treatment center uses CyberKnife technology to treat trigeminal neuralgia, also known as the “suicide disease.”

1. May 16, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sarah Tiambeng, Zehnder Communications, (504) 962-3731, saraht@z-comm.com
CyberKnife Center of Chicago offers Stereotactic
Radiosurgery for Painful Nerve Disorder
Elmhurst-based cancer treatment center uses CyberKnife technology to treat trigeminal neuralgia,
also known as the “suicide disease.”
ELMHURST, Ill. – CyberKnife Center of Chicago now offers stereotactic radiosurgery for the
treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, a debilitating nerve disorder characterized by excruciating facial
pain.
The center has treated more than 60 patients suffering from the acute pain associated with trigeminal
neuralgia, or TN.
Though primarily used to treat benign and malignant tumors, CyberKnife Center of Chicago treats TN
patients with a procedure called stereotactic radiosurgery using CyberKnife®
technology. The
treatment is a noninvasive alternative to powerful painkilling drugs or other antidepressant or
anticonvulsive medication patients often take to ease their pain.
The disorder can occur when a blood vessel compresses the fifth cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve.
Many times, no cause can be found. For these patients, simple, everyday activities such as chewing,
talking or swallowing can be difficult. As the pain intensifies, patients find themselves unable to
predict what may trigger the next episode.
TN usually causes sharp pain in the jaw, which can often be mistaken for a dental problem. Patients
may undergo root canals or tooth extractions in an attempt to relieve their pain. Only when the
discomfort persists do many patients seek additional medical advice or treatment.
“Stereotactic radiosurgery can be an excellent treatment for TN patients seeking freedom from pain
medications or a nonsurgical option to alleviate their pain,” Dr. Andy Su, medical director of
CyberKnife Center of Chicago said. “The CyberKnife delivers highly-focused radiation beams to the
trigeminal nerve to interrupt pain-causing fibers.”
The pinpoint accuracy of the procedure spares healthy tissue and does not require surgery or
sedation. Stereotactic radiosurgery for TN is typically a one-time, outpatient procedure and is
completed within an hour. Though TN does not have a cure, pain can be reduced or eliminated in
about 85 to 90 percent of patients who are treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, according to clinical
data.
In addition to trigeminal neuralgia, CyberKnife Center of Chicago treats cancerous and noncancerous
tumors in many parts of the body, including the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas, kidney
and bone. The center is also capable of treating recurrent tumors that may have been treated
previously with conventional radiation therapy.

2. To find out if you or a loved one may be a candidate for trigeminal neuralgia treatment with
CyberKnife, request more information.
CyberKnife Center of Chicago is a service of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and is located at 200
Berteau Ave. in Elmhurst, Ill. Call (331) 221-2050 for more information.
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