HO CHI MINH CITY (Bernama-VNA): FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has announced its investment in a cutting-edge robotic radiosurgery device integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), the first of its kind in Vietnam.

According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the CyberKnife S7 system, valued at nearly 200 billion VND (approximately US$8 million), enables the treatment of tumours anywhere in the body without surgery, marking a major advance in non-invasive, highly precise cancer therapy.

According to Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital, the CyberKnife system was first developed in 1990 by Dr John R. Adler, a neurosurgeon at Stanford University in the United States.

Now in its seventh generation, the system has been clinically validated in more than 5,000 scientific publications.

With its ability to accurately target tumours across the body, CyberKnife S7 represents a global revolution in minimally invasive radiosurgery.

What sets the CyberKnife S7 apart is its real-time image-guidance technology and robotic arm, which combines a 6MV linear accelerator with full 3D mobility, allowing sub-millimetre targeting precision.

Powered by Synchrony technology and AI, the system automatically adjusts radiation beams in real time to account for tumour movement caused by respiration or internal organ motion, such as in the lungs, liver, or prostate.

This eliminates the need for traditional immobilisation equipment or breath-hold techniques, reducing side effects and enhancing patient comfort and treatment outcomes.

Treatment duration is significantly reduced, requiring just one to five sessions compared to 10 to 40 with conventional radiotherapy.

Dr Basma M’Barek, Head of FV’s Hy Vong Cancer Centre, said the system is especially beneficial for treating difficult-to-access or recurrent tumours, as well as cancers located near vital organs.

It can also be used to treat certain non-cancerous conditions, such as brain arteriovenous malformations and cardiac arrhythmias, which are typically beyond the capabilities of standard radiotherapy machines.

By pioneering this technology, FV Hospital aims to expand access to advanced cancer care in Vietnam, reduce the need for overseas treatment, and meet the growing demand from foreign residents and medical tourists.

Notably, CyberKnife S7 treatment is covered under Vietnam’s national health insurance scheme. - Bernama-VNA