Gamma-knife is one of the methods of stereotactic radiosurgery. Gamma knife was first introduced in 1968 and has been widely used since then. Furthermore, it is widely accepted as an effective non-invasive treatment option for treating a wide range of brain diseases. More than 10,000,000 patients worldwide have been treated with γ-knife for various brain diseases.

Based on imaging studies of the patient (mainly magnetic resonance imaging and, if appropriate, computed tomography scan and angiography) and with the help of a special immobilizer system (stereotactic frame) and dedicated computer software that enables the formulation of the gamma ray treatment plan, it is possible for a brain lesion to be irradiated with surgical precision, thus justifying the term radiosurgery. The gamma-knife uses lots of small beams of radiation originating from multiple sources of cobalt. Each individual radiation beam does not harm the healthy brain tissue in its course to the target. However, all of the beams converging in accordance with the treatment plan in the target lesion, which we wish to irradiate, deliver a high dose of irradiation capable of neutralizing the lesion.

The benefits of gamma-knife are high precision, resulting in a high dose of radiation being delivered to the lesion area in only one session most of the time without harming the surrounding healthy brain. But a key advantage is that it is a non-invasive treatment without the potentially serious complications of a craniotomy, which is why gamma knife therapy is also referred to as ‘surgery without a scalpel’. In addition, the treatment lasts for a few hours and is very well tolerated by patients, who may even return immediately to their work and everyday life, as no recovery period is required.

Gamma knife is used as a treatment option for a variety of brain diseases, such as:

• Benign tumors (meningiomas, acoustic neuromas and other types of neuromas, pituitary adenomas)
• Malignant tumors (metastases, gliomas, glioblastomas)
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Movement disorders, like Parkinson

Our team initially examines the patient clinically and reviews pertinent imaging studies and then after comparing all possible treatment options can recommend gamma knife treatment.  In addition, our team possesses the necessary experience to determine the anatomical target and to collaborate with the radiation oncologist and the medical physicist in devising the gamma ray treatment plan.