Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

What is Gamma Knife radiosurgery?

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a form of radiation therapy that accurately focuses hundreds of individual laser beams at a tumour. It is often used as an alternative therapy to chemotherapy, surgery or other forms of radiation oncology to treat brain tumours.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Why do you need Gamma Knife radiosurgery?

Gamma Knife radiosurgery can be used to treat the following conditions:

  • Benign brain tumours
  • Malignant brain tumours
  • Nerve disorders, such as trigeminal neuralgia
  • Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), which is an abnormal collection of blood vessels
  • Acoustic neuroma, a non-cancerous tumour that develops between your inner ear and brain.
  • Pituitary tumours, which are tumours at the base of your brain (pituitary gland)

The effects of the Gamma Knife radiosurgery will not be immediate but gradual. As radiation treatments are designed to stop the growth of tumours or lesions, you may only see progress over a period of weeks or months.

Your doctor will stay in contact with you during this period. To track your progress, you may need follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, computed tomography (CT) scans or angiography examinations.

Who should not do Gamma Knife radiosurgery?

If you are expecting, you should discuss with your doctor if you should go ahead with Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

What are the risks and complications of Gamma Knife radiosurgery?

Despite its name, Gamma Knife radiosurgery does not involve surgical incisions. This makes it less risky, especially when compared with traditional neurosurgery.

The risks and side effects of Gamma Knife radiosurgery may include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Swelling in the brain, which may show up approximately 6 months after surgery instead of immediately
  • Red and irritated scalp, especially where the head frame was worn during the procedure
  • Numbness or tingling sensation on the scalp where the surgery pins were placed
  • Hair loss, if the tumour is close to the scalp
  • Bleeding
  • Seizures
  • Fatigue
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