Neurosurgery
Treatment of brain tumours with Gamma Knife Icon does not require surgery
What is Gamma Knife ICON?
The Gamma Knife procedure involves identifying the area of disease in the skull, which is stabilized with a stereotactic frame, then 192 gamma rays from cobalt sources are directed to the area. Low-energy beams from multiple sources apply a high dose of radiation to the point targeted by the radiation without damaging the healthy part of the brain. The Gamma Knife provides patients with treatment without surgery. The procedure eliminates the need for anaesthesia and resuscitation and takes only a few hours. Patients can return to their normal routine the next day of treatment.
History of Gamma Knife
The Gamma Knife radiosurgery method was introduced to medicine in 1968 by Lars Leksell. Gamma Knife is a process by which multiple low-energy radioactive beams are directed to the area of disease inside the skull without damaging healthy brain tissue. Gamma Knife is a radiosurgery technique that was first used in 1968. Today, Gamma Knife is used in about 330 centres worldwide. According to 2017 statistics, more than one million patients with various brain diseases have been treated with Gamma Knife.
Diseases
Benign tumours
- Meningiomas
- Pituitary tumour
- Vestibular schwannomas (tumour of the auditory-nerve)
- Trigeminal schwannomas
- Hemangioblastomas
- Tumours of the pineal region
- Craniopharyngiomas
- Tumour of jugular body
- Chordomas
Diseases of blood vessels
- Arteriovenous malformations (congenital entanglement of blood vessels in the brain)
- Cavernomas
Patients with movement disorders
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Movement disorders
- Shaking – Tremors associated with Parkinson's disease
- Essential tremor
Malignant tumours
- Metastasis
- Uveal melanoma
- Some glial tumours
- Hemangiopericytoma
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Stages of Treatment
Stereotactic frame placement is the first stage of treatment. This treatment is performed with local anaesthesia, and in children it is performed with sedation.
If necessary, the frame is substituted by a mask. The mask is made individually for each patient. Prior to treatment, each patient undergoes an MRI scan.
Angiography is done in patients who have AVM. The appropriate dose for treatment is planned with special computer programs.
The patient rests in his/her room in preparation for treatment. Treatment with Gamma Knife ICON is started after treatment dose planning. After the treatment, the patient can go home the same day.
Pituitary Adenoma (Before / After)
Vestibular Schwannomas (Before / After)
Metastasis (Before / After)
Arteriovenous Malformation (Before / After)
What are the advantages of Gamma Knife treatment - Radiosurgery
- Eliminates the need for open surgery for a number of brain tumours.
- The risk of side effects associated with the treatment is minimal.
- No general anaesthesia required
- The patient can return home the same day after treatment.
- There is no barrier to the patient returning to work quickly.
- There is no surgical incision.
- No need for hair cutting.
Gamma Knife ICON
This model is the newest and most advanced model of the Gamma Knife. The CT scanner is integrated into the GK device. If necessary, Gamma Knife ICON treatment can be applied without metal frames. When stabilizing the patient's head, a mask is used instead of a metal frame. In addition, some tumours that are located in critical or large areas can be treated with hypofractionation. That is why, the risk of side effects from radiation may be minimal than side effects associated with radiation may be very low.