About The Gamma Knife

The Gamma Knife, a remarkable, 20 ton medical device, was invented in 1968 by a Swedish duo, Dr. Lars Leksell of Karolinska Institute and biophysicist Professor Borje Larsson. Since then more than 150,000 patients worldwide have been treated with the Gamma Knife. Recent advances in neuro-imaging techniques and the increasing power of computers have been responsible for the rapid growth of radiosurgery in recent years. Many years of well-documented research and clinical evaluation support the efficacy of Gamma Knife technology.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is not intended to replace conventional neurosurgery, but it is an effective, additional weapon to combat vascular malformations and tumors of the brain. Gamma Knife treatment may serve as an adjunct to standard neurosurgical therapy or as the preferred course of treatment when traditional surgery is not recommended.

Not really a knife at all, the Gamma Knife is a unique stereotactic radiosurgical device used to treat brain tumors and other malformations of the brain without invasive surgery. The Gamma Knife delivers a single, high dose of ionizing radiation emanating from 201 cobalt-60 sources positioned about a hemispherical, precision machined cavity. The lesion is first targeted with precise accuracy using advanced imaging and three dimensional treatment planning such as CT Scans or MR Scans. Each individual beam is focused on a common target, producing an intense concentration of radiation at the target site, destroying the lesion while spreading the entry radiation dose uniformly and harmlessly over the patient's skull. The mechanical precision at the target site is +/- 0.1mm (1/10 of 1 millimeter). Because of the steep fall-off in the radiation intensity surrounding the target, the lesion can be destroyed while sparing the surrounding tissue.

The Gamma Knife is superior to other stereotactic radiosurgery devices in its precision and its method of operation. The procedure, performed in a single treatment, sharply reduces hospital stay and eliminates the risk of post-surgical bleeding and infection that can be associated with conventional surgery. Most patients are able to leave the hospital within a few hours of their Gamma Knife treatment.

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