Artificial intelligence is helping Floridians with brain tumors. Here’s how

Dr. Brian Collins’ medical residency at Georgetown University introduced him to the advanced CyberKnife technology, developed at Stanford University, which would later become central to his career in oncology.
CyberKnife, an artificial intelligence-driven system, offers a precise method for tackling challenging brain tumors by using targeted radiation to destroy tumor fragments while sparing healthy tissue.
The precision of CyberKnife means doctors can perform more conservative surgeries, minimizing risks such as paralysis and death, and allowing for the retention of some tumor fragments that might otherwise necessitate extensive removal.
Dr. Collins, now a leading expert in CyberKnife treatments and a radiation oncologist, brought the CyberKnife program to Tampa General Hospital in Florida after his recruitment by USF Health in 2022.
Patients like Mallory McLean benefit from the CyberKnife’s noninvasive nature; after partial surgical removal of her sizeable brain tumor during pregnancy, CyberKnife eliminated the remaining cancerous cells through targeted radiation over several sessions, leading to full recovery.