What is Gamma-Knife?
Gamma knife is an extraordinary method that allows brain surgeons to perform surgery in the abnormal areas of the brain without any need for any incisions. In this surgical method, which differs from radiation therapy, treatment is completed in one seance. It is usually the preferred method when open brain surgery is not possible or has high risk.
How to treat with a Gamma-knife?
First, a metal frame is fixed to the head so that the head can be held steady. This is vital to ensure that the treatment is done correctly and that radiation is given exactly where it is needed. After a light breakfast, the patient who is coming to the hospital is given a metal frame within about 10 minutes. During this procedure, local anesthesia is applied to the areas where the frame is placed in the head.
After the image of the diseased area is taken after the frame is well placed, the treatment is started. The required position is taken in the frame, the patient is placed in the treatment machine and as comfortable as possible. The operations to be done are told to themselves. Then the patient is moved into the machine and radiation therapy is started. After each beam is delivered to the correct position for the required time, the patient is removed from the machine.
What types of brain tumors can be treated with a gamma knife?
With the gamma knife, both benign brain tumors (meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas) and malignant brain tumors (brain metastases, glial tumors) can be treated. In addition to gamma knife brain tumors, vascular diseases (arteriovenous malformations) and functional brain diseases (trigeminal neuralgia, parkinsonism, epilepsy) are also used.
