Gamma Knife® Radiosurgery
Spring 2006
Mr. Metz is among more than
30,000 patients who safely undergo
Gamma Knife® radiosurgery each
year. Gamma Knife® radiosurgery is
a precise and powerful treatment for
brain disorders that has been used
worldwide since 1968. Because it is
noninvasive, effective and safe, it
is the preferred treatment method
for a wide variety of conditions,
including benign or malignant brain
tumors, blood vessel malformations,
trigeminal neuralgia (painful
condition of the facial nerves)
and tremor.
The Gamma Knife®, which is
actually not a knife, but a highly
advanced machine, delivers 201
beams of extremely focused radiation
to a precise target in the brain. The
individual beams are too weak to
damage healthy tissue, but together,
they converge to deliver powerful
treatment to a single point. Prior to
the surgery, a team of physicians
creates detailed maps of the patient's
brain, using magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), computed
tomography (CT) or angiography
imaging, to determine the target for
the radiation. They can then
determine the exact amount of
radiation needed to treat the disorder.
The radiation
delivered by the Gamma Knife® does not eliminate
the diseased tissue; rather, it damages
the individual abnormal cells. As a
result, brain tumor cells are unable
to multiply and blood vessel
malformations close off, eventually
stop growing and start to shrink.
During the procedure,
patients experience little or no discomfort.
Since the Gamma Knife® requires no
incisions, there is no risk of infection,
bleeding or other complications.
Patients are usually able to go home
the same day, and most are able to
resume normal activities almost
immediately.
Follow-up is essential, since the
effects of the radiation treatment
occur over time. Over the next year,
patients must return for regular
imaging procedures, such as an MRI,
so physicians can track the gradual
effect of the radiation. Though
patient outcomes vary, Gamma
Knife® radiosurgery is effective in
shrinking, and in some cases,
eliminating brain lesions, tumors,
and venous malformations.
Additionally, patients who undergo
treatment for movement disorders,
epilepsy or pain syndromes like
trigeminal neuralgia, see their
symptoms resolve in the weeks after
the procedure.
Gamma Knife® radiosurgery
can successfully treat patients with
certain disorders; however, Gamma
Knife® is not right for everyone.
Speak with your doctor about
whether Gamma Knife® is the right
treatment option for you.
Gamma Knife and Leksell Gamma Knife are U.S. federally registered
trademarks of Elekta Instrument S.A., Geneva, Switzerland.
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