GammaKnife

Details of gamma knife radiosurgery

Gamma Knife procedure begins with diagnosis: the patient undergoes CT and MRI. Then, if it is needed, a doctor can additionally prescribe angiography.

The head of the patient is fixed with a unique stereotaxic frame to avoid movements. The doctor administers anaesthetics to prevent the patient from feeling pain at this time. Medications exclude any unpleasant sensations, except for slight squeezing. Then the patient is placed in the desired position in the Gamma Knife device. The specialists leave the room and maintain a voice connection with the patient.

The machine rotates over the patient for accurate radiation to the targeted points. The timing depends on the tumour's size, location, and the presence of metastases. The procedure can last from half an hour to 4 hours, and the doctor informs about it in advance.

Candidates for GammaKnife

The device treats very small neoplasms (5-10mm) and large tumours (up to 6cm). As a result, it can easily access areas where it is impossible to penetrate using traditional surgical methods. Also, Gamma Knife is essential when the formation is close to critical areas such as the brain stem or optic nerve. The accuracy of the machine is around 0,15 mm.

Gamma beams can reach many tumours. However, patients with the following conditions are ideal candidates:

• Benign brain tumours;
• Neuromas of cranial nerves (in particular, auditory);
• Meningiomas - any localisation of neoplasm;
• Pituitary tumour;
• Trigeminal neuralgia;
• Primary intracerebral tumours (from the first to the last stage of malignancy);
• Cancer metastases to the brain (up to 10);
• Cavernous angiomas;
• Arterio-venous malformations.

That is not a complete list of radiosurgery-targeted conditions. Doctors consider each tumour for possible application, comparing it with other methods.

Advantages of GammaKnife for benign and malignant tumours

Among all radiosurgical methods, Gamma Knife is recognised as the gold standard for oncology treatment. And this is no coincidence. The technique has many specific advantages:

• No trepanation of the skull is required, as in a surgical operation;
• Less damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumour;
• The painless technique is performed under local anaesthesia;
• Fast recovery - the operation does not require hospitalisation, and the patient returns home the same day.
• The desired result, in most cases, is achieved after a single exposure.
• A reliable alternative to surgical methods - it destroys tumours that are not accessible to a neurosurgeon's scalpel. First of all, this applies to tumours located near the vital structures of the brain.

Additionally, the method is highly effective and has predictable results. In most cases, the procedure allows doctors to kill the mass or take control of its development.

Undesirable side effects

The drawbacks of the method are low accuracy in some cases and limit to wide application - only brain tumours and some metastases. The technique can cause common side effects like headaches, vomiting, nausea, vision deterioration and fatigue. Doctors nowadays well manage general complications after the treatment.

There are certain conditions and contraindications to the operation performed using a GammaKnife. Due to irradiation of a large tumour, there is a risk of local post-radiation complications. Therefore, the neoplasm cannot be more than 5-6 cm. Symptoms related to brain compression may develop quickly (the doctor always limits the tumours that can have radiosurgery).

Individual features and contraindications to surgery can be determined only by a qualified radiologist with training or a neurosurgeon.

Recovery after radiosurgery

The procedure takes place in an outpatient setting - hospitalisation, in this case, is not required. GammaKnife is entirely painless. During and after the treatment doctor prescribe symptomatic treatment to prevent or treat any symptom.

Usually, it takes one day, after which the patient receives a conclusion and recommendations for further monitoring. Then, you can return to daily activities the very next day. Most patients are recommended to have a control MRI scan in several weeks to track tumour size.

GammaKnife procedure cost

To understand how much the Gamma Knife operation costs, you need to get a preliminary consultation with a specialist who will draw conclusions based on the diagnostics passed. The cost of Gamma Knife treatment for each patient is calculated individually. It depends on several factors:

• The stage of the oncological process;
• The presence or absence of metastases;
• General health.

Therefore, experts can only name the exact price after a complete examination. In addition, the price of the procedure depends on the country where the treatment takes place. In general, approximate cost of therapy: 6,000 $ - 15,500 $.