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Gamma knife surgery is not recommended for the following groups of patients:
● Patients with a lesion or tumor bigger than 4 cm in diameter
● Patients suffering from a tumor with an edge that is less than 3 mm away from the optic chiasm
You will need 1 trip abroad to complete the whole procedure and follow up with your local doctor.
An overnight stay is not required.
A stereotactic frame is first fitted onto the patient's head. The frame is attached through 4 titanium pins to the patient’s head – the pins usually penetrate around 2 mm. Local anesthesia may be administered during this point. If the patient is very young or anxious, general anesthesia may be used as well. MRIs and CT scans are then performed in order to set up a treatment plan.
The stereotactic frame is needed in order to keep the patient’s head still during gamma knife surgery. The patient will need to sit on a treatment table, with his head under the gamma knife system. The oncologist and neurosurgeon will then begin administering gamma knife radiation into the patient’s tumor, with a 0.1 mm precision, ensuring that the patient’s healthy tissue is not affected. Once the necessary dose of gamma knife radiation is administered, the stereoscopic frame is removed and the patient may resume normal activities.
This procedure requires no recovery period – patients may return to normal activities on the same day after the treatment is over.
Gamma knife radiosurgery complications can include edema and damage to surrounding brain tissue. Complications are most likely to occur at least 6 months after the gamma knife surgery is performed. Most complications are easily treatable with proper medical care. Very rare complications can include visual loss and hearing loss if the tumor is located close to the patient’s eyes or ears. Common complications include local hair loss.
Gamma knife radiosurgery side effects are quite rare but patients can experience some degree of discomfort, nausea, and headaches after the treatment. Some patients may also experience pain when the stereotactic frame is fitted.
The average gamma knife surgery success rate is between 70 and 90%, depending on the location of the tumor or lesion and its size.
Patients will be required to perform follow-up tests in a few months after the gamma knife radiosurgery.
Are there any alternatives to gamma knife radiosurgery?
Yes, cyberknife can also be used, but it depends on the type of tumor and its location.
How long does the procedure last?
It depends on the type of tumor and its size.
Can gamma knife radiosurgery treat epilepsy?
Yes, but only in certain cases.