The Gamma Knife is a safe, non-invasive, technologically advanced device for treating deep-seated brain tumors and Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM's). Many conditions, including those that were once considered inoperable, can now be treated without incision and with little or no pain. Worldwide, more than one million people have had gamma knife radiosurgery.
Patients suffering from brain lesions have no hope in treatment and are experiencing less invasive treatments with faster recovery times and no need for general anesthesia.
The Gamma Knife Perfexion radiosurgery system can treat several different types of brain diseases, from cancerous tumors to blood vessel and neurological problems, with a success rate comparable to that of traditional surgery and an ability to go where a scalpel cannot.
As explained by Dr. Alain C.J. de Lotbinière, MD, CM, FACS, FRCSC, Medical Director of the New York hospital's Gamma Knife Center and Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, the "knife" in question actually consists of a radiation device housed within a larger unit that encompasses the patient's head.
The patient lies comfortably on a table while the Gamma Knife delivers up to 192 precisely-targeted beams of gamma radiation through the skull and onto the diseased or malformed tissues within. He notes that the beams can be targeted to an accuracy of half a millimeter, which helps to ensure the least possible impact on healthy surrounding tissues.
The FDA-approved Gamma Knife has demonstrated high success rates in the treatment of meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, pituitary adenomas, metastatic tumors and forms of brain cancer. It has proven effective against vascular malformations and chronic neurological issues such as trigeminal neuralgia. The technique has also been lauded for its ability to control or destroy lesions in areas too deep or delicate for conventional surgical methods.
The non-invasive nature of this form of radiosurgery enables the patient to undergo even complex procedures with only mild sedation and local anesthetic. This means that he can communicate with the attending surgeon and answer questions as needed. A typical Gamma Knife session takes approximately 30 minutes, with the patient discharged following an hour's observation, eliminating the need for lengthy, expensive hospitalization and recuperation periods.
Gamma knife treatment rarely causes side effects and there is no risk of surgical complications such as infection, hemorrhage or leakage of cerebral spinal fluid. The gamma knife has been used most effectively to treat small to medium-size (less than 3 centimeters or 1.25 inches) brain tumors and AVMs, although it can be used for larger targets. It is also used to treat residual lesions, diseased tissue that cannot be removed by conventional surgery, and recurring tumors. The Perfexion gamma knife is able to target treatment within a half-millimeter of accuracy. It is the most advanced stereostatic radiosurgery technology currently available.
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