Gamma Knife Surgery is a painless computer-guided treatment that is used to treat various brain complications. This surgery uses computer-guided treatment that delivers highly focused radiation to tumors and lesions in the brain. Gamma Knife Surgery is an extremely advanced way of treating brain tumors and other issues in the brain using radiation from gamma rays. It is not actual surgery and it doesn’t use an actual knife to perform it. Here are some useful information about Gamma Knife surgery.
What is Gamma Knife Surgery?
This surgery is also known as stereotactic radiosurgery, Gamma Knife radiosurgery and Gamma Knife radiation. It is a type of radiation treatment performed with the Gamma Knife to treat brain tumors and other abnormalities in the brain. This surgery involves focusing small, highly precise doses of radiation into the brain. Gamma knife surgery shrinks small brain tumours and nerves that cause pain or seizures. It is actually a treatment that provides beams of highly focuses radiation and some precisely focused on the specific area of brain, specifically in the shape of the tumor or lesion, while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.
This surgery can also treat some brain disorders like Parkinson’s diseases and it does not actually involve a knife or surgery. It is a best alternative to neurosurgery for some patients since it is less invasive and hospitalization is less. If you are looking for best country to take Gamma knife surgery, India would be best option for you. There are many specialized and effective technology in India and also Gamma Knife Surgery Cost in India is affordable than other countries.
What Disease or Condition Does it Treat?
Gamma knife surgery is recommended to treat some diseases and conditions of the brain. Before deciding on gamma knife surgery, it is best to ask your doctor about all of your treatment option and also get second opinion. This surgery can treat several brain disorders including:
- It treats brain tumors including both cancer and non-cancer tumors. Meningiomas, chordomas, glial tumos, brain metastases, pituitary adenomas and pinealomas can be treated.
- Gamma knife surgery treat Acoustic neuroma which is a non-cancerous tumor that develops around the balance and hearing nerves that connect the inner ear with the brain.
- It also treats some types of cancer of the eye and arteriovenuous malformations (AVMs) and other blood vessel disorders in the brain.
- Gamma knife surgery treats trigeminal neuralgia which is a nerve disorder causing debilitating face pain.
- It also treat Parkinson’s disease which leads to uncontrollable shaking, muscle stiffness, and severe problems with coordination and balance.
This kind of surgery might also be helpful to treat brain lesion or tumor that can’t be reached by traditional surgery techniques. Gamma knife surgery can also be combined with traditional surgery to prevent tumor regrowth. It can also be used for some conditions that require urgent treatment.
Who Performs Gamma Knife Surgery?
There is a specialised team to perform gamma knife surgery. Medical physicists, Neurosurgeons and pediatric neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists are commonly included in the specialized team. Medical physicists will be specialized in the safety and effectiveness of radiation treatments and imaging procedures. Neurosurgeons are specialized in the surgical treatment of diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Radiation oncologists will be in the team to treat cancer with radiation. Also the specialise team may include one or more of these specialists based on your diagnosis. The team might include otolaryngologists, neuroradiologists and neurotologists.
How is Gamma Knife Surgery Performed?
The treatment process involves several steps and the complete process occurs in single day and generally the following steps includes.
- Initially you will be dress in a patient gown and need to remove all accessories that may interfere with the radiation treatment.
- During the procedure you will receive a mild sedative or other medication and four small injections of local anesthetic to numb the area in your scalp.
- At the site of the anesthetic injections, a head frame will be attached to your head with pins so there is no need to shave your hair to do this process.
- The brain imaging scans will be taken to precisely locate your tumor or target area.
- After planning the exact treatment plan and where to apply the radiation, team will fit treatment helmet called a collimator helmet over your head frame. There is a special pattern of holes in the collimator helmet to direct radiation beams to pass through to the exact location in your brain needing treatment.
- You bed will move into the gamma knife machine and your team will observe you by video and also you can talk with them over an intercom.
- Based on the treatment plan, the radiation treatment itself takes from one to four hours. You will not feel the treatment since it does not produce any sounds or smells.
- After the completion of radiation treatment, your care team will return to the gamma knife treatment room. Your team will remove your collimator helmet, head frame, and IV line.
- At the end they will ensure that your vital signs like blood pressure and pulse are stable. Some might receive gamma knife surgery go home the same day and few might ask to stay in the hospital for a night for further observation. It is completely based on the treatment plan and your health condition.
Summing it up
Gamma knife surgery is completely safe and carries many benefits over traditional surgery. The treatment limits damage to the surrounding healthy tissues and results in little to no post-treatment discomfort or pain. It allows people to return to usual activities in a day or two.