About Gamma Knife Surgery

Gamma Knife®: A Revolutionary Surgery

Gamma Knife surgery is a non-invasive alternative to conventional brain surgery. Considered the "gold standard" of radiosurgery technologies, this revolutionary procedure allows safe and effective treatment for many types of intracranial tumors, vascular malformations and other brain dysfunctions, such as trigeminal neuralgia. In fact, the Gamma Knife can often treat conditions that were once considered inoperable. It offers new hope for patients who were previously considered untreatable or at very high risk for open brain surgery.

How Gamma Knife works

Gamma Knife surgery does not involve any incisions. Instead, doctors used advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scans or MRIs, to pinpoint tumors or vascular abnormalities in the brain. The Gamma Knife unit uses that information to deliver an array of radiation beams from many different directions to the target area.

Taken separately, each radiation beam is too weak to harm the brain tissue it passes through; but the point at which all 201 beams meet is where the radiation has impact. Advanced imaging techniques and computer technology enable surgeons to identify that point with submillimeter precision.

Most Gamma Knife procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, and require only a single session. Patients are typically able to resume normal activities the next day. Gamma Knife is quickly becoming the preferred treatment option for a range of conditions. The number of Gamma Knife surgeries world-wide has increased more than 400 percent within the last ten years.

Advantages of Gamma Knife Surgery

Gamma Knife surgery is SAFE: Since there is no incision, the risk of surgical complications, such as infection, hemorrhage and reactions to anesthesia are minimal. The vast majority of adult patients require only local anesthesia and a mild sedative during the procedure.

Gamma Knife surgery is PRECISE: Gamma Knife sets the bar for accuracy, with a level of precision that enhances physician confidence and ensures patient safety. Gamma Knife delivers radiation to the targeted area with pinpoint accuracy, enabling the surgeon to destroy diseased tissue while preserving the healthy surrounding brain tissue.

Gamma Knife surgery is FAST: The Gamma Knife procedure takes less than one hour, and generally requires only one session. The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis. Patients are able to go home the same day.

Gamma Knife surgery is LESS EXPENSIVE: Since the procedure and recovery times for Gamma Knife surgery are significantly less than traditional neurosurgery, the cost of the Gamma Knife procedure is often 25 to 30 percent less than open brain surgery. Medicare and most insurance plans cover the cost of the procedure.

Gamma Knife surgery is relatively PAIN FREE: As a non-invasive technique, patients experience little discomfort during the surgery, and have virtually no post-operative recovery pain.

Gamma Knife is SUCCESSFUL: This surgical procedure has been developed and refined during the past 40 years. Its clinical success has been demonstrated worldwide. More than 2,500 peer-reviewed articles have been published about the Gamma Knife, and nearly 350,000 patients have benefited from Gamma Knife surgery.