Piedmont Hospital installed the fourth Gamma knife unit in North America over 20 years ago and has had continuous experience in the use of this device ever since. Gamma Knife Surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that treats tumors and vascular abnormalities within the brain with intersecting beams of radiation therapy, eliminating the need for traditional open neurosurgery. This procedure is commonly used to treat brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, acoustic neuromas/schwannomas, trigeminal neuralgia and other abnormalities within the brain.
During this procedure, your doctor will use imaging guidance to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor or lesion for precise delivery of the radiation energy. The 201 individual beams are too weak to harm the brain tissue that they pass through and are only effective at the specific location where all of the beams meet. This procedure requires no incisions and dramatically reduces the risks of infection, bleeding and anesthesia problems commonly associated with traditional neurosurgery.
The gamma knife radiosurgery procedure is performed in one day on an outpatient basis, with patients typically able to return home the same day. Some patients may experience headaches or nausea after treatment, but these side effects are rare. Local control of the treated lesion with Gamma Knife is typically excellent.
For more information about GammaKnife - www.elekta.com/radiosurgery