Gamma Knife Treatment
| Average length of stay | 1-10 days | |
| Length of stay in hospital | - |
In basics, the Gamma Knife is a brain surgery without the knife. The Gamma Knife is an alternative to traditional brain surgery and whole brain radiation therapy for the treatment of complex and difficult brain conditions. Leading centers around the world choose Gamma Knife for its accuracy and documented outcomes.
In Gamma Knife surgery technique, the non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery instrument that involves no scalpel or incision – which involves in identification of the diseased area in the head by computers and to irradiate this area with gamma rays emitted from 192 cobalt sources. The low beams powered from each source do not damage the brain, but gives high radiation dose to the point where the 192 rays are focused.
The Gamma Knife is a non-invasive treatment to control malignant and nonmalignant tumors, as well as vascular and functional disorders in the brain, without harming surrounding healthy tissue. Patients are typically in and out of the hospital in a day’s time – and back to their normal routines soon after treatment.
WHY GAMMA KNIFE ICON?
The Leksell Gamma Knife Icon offers a more comprehensive range of sensitivity. Depending on the needs of each patient, it is possible to choose one of the options of framed treatment, mask treatment and mask and fraction therapy.
WHAT ARE GAMMA KNIFE ICON FEATURES?
Flexibility
It offers treatment with frame-based or frameless.
Standard radiotherapy or ultra-sensitive microradioceresis can be applied. The Leksell Gamma Knife Icon allows frameless immobilization precision to be at the same level as framed treatments. This distinguishes Gamma Knife Icon from other frameless solutions.
Online Adaptive Dose Control - A new standard
Online Adaptive Dose Control is a comprehensive concept that ensures accuracy and provides precise treatment. Integrated with the control system, it provides continuous quality control throughout the process. It provides real-time monitoring at the time of treatment.
Real-Time Motion Management
With the Icon immobilization with the frame, a similar sensitivity level can be obtained with the frames. The high-definition motion management system monitors the patient in real-time, with an accuracy of 0.15 mm, six times better than the industry standard. If the patient goes out of the predefined threshold, the system's control feature prevents immediate radiation.
Online Control of Radiation Delivery
The integrated stereotactic Cone Beam CT is unique to Icon. With the processing of CBCT and MR images, the treatment plan is automatically adapted to changes in the patient's position. Online Dose Assessment allows you to compare the dose distribution you wish to transmit with the dose you are planning to deliver.
Hallmarks of Gamma Knife radiosurgery treatment includes precise target definition, exquisite conformity of the dose to the target where there is malignant and nonmalignant tumors, while sparing normal brain and sub-millimeter accuracy of treatment delivery. Growth of the tumor is inhibited and tumor cells start to deteriorate. The goal in this treatment is to stop the growth of the tumor. The tumors of mostly treated patients are shrinking over time. The rate of tumor shrinkage is approximately equal to the growth rate.
In the treatment of vascular bundles called Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), the Gamma Knife leads to thickening of the walls of the vessels which are normally large and gradually become clogged. The closure of the vein has develops over time, in about 3 years. As malignant tumors and metastases develop rapidly, the recovery takes place in few months at the same rate.
Gamma Knife has been used in the treatment of many diseases since 1968. According to 2017 figures, more than 1 million patients with various brain diseases have been treated with the Gamma Knife device.
Diseases that can be treated with Gamma Knife Radiotherapy can be listed as below:
Benign tumors:
• Meningioma
• Pituitary Tumor
• Vestibular Schwannoma (hearing-balance syndrome)
• Trigeminal Schwannoma
• Hemangioblastoma
• Pineal region tumors
• Craniopharyngioma
• Glomus jugulare tumor
• Chordoma
Vascular Disorders:
• Arteriovenous malformation (AVM - congenital vascular nevus)
• Cavernomas
Functional diseases:
• Trigeminal neuralgia
Movement disorders:
• Tremor (tremor due to Parkinson's disease)
• Essential tremor
Malignant tumors:
• Metastases
• Uveal melanoma
• Some glial tumors
• Hemangiopericytoma
• Nasopharynx carcinoma
Gamma knife treatment can also be applied to patients with tumors that are located deep in the brain where a surgery with general anesthesia is inconvenient and surgical procedures cannot be tolerated and patients who do not accept or prefer to have open surgery. For each case, our Doctors will be deciding which surgery you will be suitable for.
The advantages of Gamma Knife Treatment can be listed as below:
- Eliminates the need for surgical intervention in many brain tumor cells
- Lower risk of treatment-related side effects
- Requires no general anesthesia
- Just one day of treatment
- Does not hinder the patient’s work routine
- Patients may return to work the following day of treatment
- No surgical scars
- No need to shave the patient’s head
HOW IS THE GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY DONE?
The first stage is the installation of stereotactic frames. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia, but is performed by sedation in young children. Masks are used instead of frames when necessary. The masks are custom made.
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Then, neuroradiology imaging is performed. MR, CT and angiography are performed according to the type of the disease. Each patient is treated with MR before treatment. People with AVM have angiography.
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With special computer programs, the dosage of the treatment plan is done according to the targeted area. When this operation is performed, the patient usually rests in the room.
Gamma Knife treatment begins immediately after planning the dosage of the treatment. After the treatment ends, the patient can get discharged on the same day.
