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On this week’s Medical Mondays video, learn about Gamma Knife® radiosurgery, one of the most precise, powerful, and proven treatments for brain disorders. This painless, non-surgical procedure uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions within the brain. During its 28-year history at UPMC, Gamma Knife radiosurgery has proven effective for more than 13,750 patients.
Here, you’ll also learn about:
- Conditions treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery
- Recovery after Gamma Knife radiosurgery
- Traditional and radiation therapy vs. Gamma Knife radiosurgery
To learn more about Gamma Knife radiosurgery at UPMC, call 1-877-986-9862 or visit our department website.
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string(4620) "Gamma Knife® radiosurgery is an accurate, non-invasive way to treat many problems in the brain and head. It seems like a misleading term since it doesn't involve a knife. Instead, Gamma Knife radiosurgery is precisely targeted radiation that affects only the tumor or other problem, not the surrounding tissues.
How Does Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Work?
Gamma Knife radiosurgery uses weak radiation that passes harmlessly through normal tissue. Only when the many beams of radiation meet are they powerful enough to affect cells. The radiation is targeted using MRI imaging, CT scans, and angiography to determine the extent of the tumor. Then a computer program maps the structure, which tells the surgeon exactly where to apply the radiation.
No knife = less invasive
If your tumors are too deep, or you can't handle the recovery of regular brain surgery, Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a better alternative. No cutting or removal of skull is required. A lightweight frame is used to anchor the head in place. Four pins are used to hold the frame in place, following local anesthesia, so there shouldn't be pain.
What to Expect During Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Treatment
With the frame attached, the imaging done, and the treatment mapped out, the surgery is ready to begin. You lie down on a moving bed that will place your head into the Gamma Knife machine. You can't feel the radiation, and the treatment itself typically takes an hour or less. Most people need just one Gamma Knife treatment.
Possible complications from Gamma Knife
After the treatment, the frame is removed, and the pin sites are covered. Some people have headaches, and some may temporarily lose hair. There is typically no pain, and you will be able to resume your normal activities. You will be taught how to keep the pin sites clean before you leave.
What is Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Used to Treat?
The Gamma Knife may be used to treat:
Today, the
Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery at UPMC is the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, and has successfully treated more than 13,500 patients. You can schedule an appointment by calling 1-877-986-9862 or
contact the UPMC Department of Neurosurgery for more information.
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string(233) "Gamma Knife radiosurgery uses highly precise and focused radiation beams that affect only the tumor or other problems, not surrounding healthy tissue. Learn more about this non-invasive approach for treating brain tumors and lesions."
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Gamma Knife radiosurgery uses highly precise and focused radiation beams that affect only the tumor or other problems, not surrounding healthy tissue. Learn more about this non-invasive approach for treating brain tumors and lesions.Read More
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string(3830) "Stereotactic radiosurgery technology is used to treat tumors, irregular nerve bundles, and malformed blood vessels with no incisions. This non-invasive treatment is performed in one or two sessions using multiple radiation beams to precisely target the problem area, while sparing healthy cells. The technology relies on computer programming and sophisticated imaging, such as MRI and CT, to accurately target the tumor, nerves and blood vessels.
There are two main types of radiosurgery treatment:
What is Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?
Gamma Knife® radiosurgery has been in use for decades to successfully treat thousands of patients worldwide. It is used to treat a variety of conditions in the brain. Prior to the procedure, the patient is fitted with a stereotactic frame that helps immobilize the head and enables pinpoint accuracy.
At UPMC, more than 13,750 patients have been successfully treated with the Gamma Knife, making UPMC a leading center for this technology.
UPMC treats a variety of conditions using Gamma Knife technology, including:
What is the Cyberknife or Linear Accelerator?
In use since 1994,
Cyberknife radiosurgery can treat tumors anywhere in the body, including tumors that cannot be surgically removed. Cyberknife has a growing list of applications, including the ability to treat tumors from prostate, lung, brain, kidney, and spine cancer. A computer guides beams of radiation and is able to adjust the patient's breathing pattern while still hitting the desired target.
The
Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery at UPMC is the nation's premier provider of Gamma Knife procedures. If you have been diagnosed with a brain or spine condition and you'd like to make an appointment, or request more information, call us at
1-877-986-9862.
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Gamma Knife radiosurgery relies on sophisticated imaging, like MRI and CT, and computer programming, to accurately target the tumor, nerves, or blood vessels. Learn more about the two main types of radiosurgery treatment.Read More
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string(2839) "If you are going to have Gamma Knife® radiosurgery, you may be wondering what kind of recovery you can expect after the procedure.
One of the main benefits of Gamma Knife treatment is the lack of complications and long recovery time that may come with traditional surgery. There is a low risk for infection and no trauma to the surrounding tissue, nor are there broad restrictions on daily activity.
What to Expect After Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
After the treatment is complete, the frame that helped keep your head in position will be removed. The pin sites will be cleaned and covered and you will receive instructions on how to care for the sites. Some patients have a headache or nausea, which is easily treated by oral medication. You will be released that day from the hospital, or possibly kept one night for observation.
Resolving symptoms
The goal of Gamma Knife radiosurgery is to disrupt the cells' ability to replicate by radiating the cells in the tumor, nerve, or brain region. You should anticipate a lessening of symptoms over time, rather than immediately after the procedure, so keep that in mind as you go forward.
Living your life after surgery
After the procedure, you will be able to eat and drink and resume all activities that you could do prior to the treatment. Some people are tired for a few days, but with adequate rest, recover their energy.
Potential Complications from Gamma Knife
Gamma Knife radiosurgery has few complications. The most common are:
- Headache
- Irritation at the pin insertion site and scalp
- Nausea
These issues typically resolve soon after the treatment, and can be treated with medication. Some people may also temporarily lose some hair.
Rarely, people experience brain swelling, severe infection at the pin site, and seizures, and even more rarely, vision or hearing loss because of the treatment location. These risks are minimal, but if you are concerned, you should speak with your doctors about the risks versus benefits.
The Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery at UPMC is proud to be the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, with more than 13,500 successful procedures performed since 1987. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with one of our Gamma Knife specialists, call us at 1-877-986-9862 or
contact us.
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string(193) "If you are having Gamma Knife ® radiosurgery, you may be wondering what kind of recovery to expect after the procedure. Learn more about how the surgery affects the return to daily activities."
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One of the main benefits of Gamma Knife radiosurgery is the lack of complications, no required incisions, and no long recovery time that may come with traditional surgery. Read more about recovery following Gamma Knife radiosurgery.Read More
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string(3914) "Gamma Knife® radiosurgery is a sophisticated technology that is used to treat a variety of brain conditions, including:
- Tumors
- Blood vessel problems
- Cranial nerve conditions
The procedure uses hundreds of weak beams of radiation that pass harmlessly through the healthy tissue and irradiate the diseased tissue where they meet together.
Conditions Treated by Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Some examples of conditions that Gamma Knife radiosurgery effectively effectively treats are:
- Trigeminal Neuralgia – This is a condition where the individual has severe facial pain on the forehead, cheek, and jaw, usually only on one side. This can be a sharp stabbing pain, or a long burning sensation. Gamma Knife radiosurgery treats the trigeminal nerve, blocking the pain signals and relieving the pain.
- Brain Metastases – Brain metastases are a type of cancer that travels to the brain after starting in other parts of the body. With precise accuracy, Gamma Knife radiosurgery delivers low-intensity radiation beams to the cancer cells in the brain, causing them to shrink.
- Acoustic Neuroma – The acoustic nerve brings signals from the ear to the brain. An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that affects hearing and balance. The Gamma Knife can precisely target this tumor, without damaging the surrounding tissue.
- Essential Tremor – Essential tremor is a nervous disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking movements in the head, arms, and hands. It can affect daily activities and even the person's voice. Fortunately, a small part of the brain is responsible for these uncontrolled movements, and the Gamma Knife can target this area to reduce the tremors without affecting the surrounding brain tissue.
- Meningioma – The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by sheaths called the meninges, and a meningioma is a tumor that arises from one of these sheaths. These tumors may cause memory difficulties, headaches, hearing loss, and seizures. Gamma Knife radiosurgery can treat these tumors without cutting into the skull.
- Arteriovenous Malformations – When arteries and veins in the brain are incorrectly developed, the result is defective blood flow. Arteriovenous malformations can cause seizures and headaches, and in rare cases, death. Gamma Knife radiation destroys the cells in these malformed vessels, causing them to gradually close off.
If you would like more information on Gamma Knife radiosurgery for these or other conditions, please contact us at the
Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery at UPMC, the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures. Call us at 1-877-986-9862 to schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options.
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Gamma Knife radiosurgery is used to treat an array of brain conditions. Read more about what conditions respond well to this treatment approach.Read More
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string(2985) "For many conditions, you have more than one treatment option to relieve your symptoms. It's important to discuss the risks and benefits of each option with your doctor to determine which is best for you. Gamma Knife® radiosurgery appeals to people seeking a short duration of treatment and a less-invasive procedure, as well as anyone who may not be a candidate for traditional surgery.
Duration of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Treatment
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is typically a one-time procedure, where many weak beams of radiation meet to concentrate radiation on the tumor or lesion. However, the results are not immediate; they develop over a period of months as the cells die and are unable to replicate. Because it is non-invasive and painless, patients are able to return to their normal activities within a day or two. Unlike Gamma Knife radiosurgery, traditional radiation therapy takes place over multiple sessions that can span weeks or months.
Invasive vs. Noninvasive Treatment Options
Traditional surgery requires:
- General anesthesia
- An incision
- Removal of the tumor
- Closure of the surgical site
The risk of infection, pain, and complications from anesthesia are always present with traditional surgery. Recovery time depends on the type of surgery. In traditional surgery, the tumor or problem is removed, allowing for more immediate results. However, some people are not able to have surgery because of their age or health issues that make it too risky for them.
Patients undergoing Gamma Knife radiosurgery receive only local anesthetic. There are no incisions and few risks. The patient is awake throughout the procedure and does not experience any pain, though there is a possibility of developing a headache following the procedure. Because the procedure is non-invasive and has few side effects, patients typically resume normal activities quickly. The results of Gamma Knife radiosurgery occur over time, rather than immediately, as with traditional surgery.
Area of Treatment
Traditional surgery and other types of stereotactic radiosurgery can be performed anywhere on the body. The Gamma Knife is designed specifically to treat problems in the brain, although new Gamma Knife technology may soon allow for additional targets within the body.
As with all medical procedures, you should discuss the risks and benefits with your physician. You may call us at the Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery at UPMC at 1-877-986-9862 to ask questions, or to schedule an appointment.
Learn more about the conditions we treat with Gamma Knife technology.
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Gamma Knife radiosurgery appeals to patients who prefer a short duration of treatment, a less-invasive procedure, and who may not be a candidate for traditional surgery. Read more about how Gamma Knife radiosurgery compares to other treatment options.Read More
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string(3929) "May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, a time to brush up on the facts. Here's what you should know about brain tumors:
What Are Brain Tumors?
When you hear of a brain tumor, you may automatically think of brain cancer. While brain tumors are scary, they are not always malignant. There are two types of brain tumors:
-
Benign tumors
- Noncancerous
- Slow growing
- Grow locally in the region they originated from
- Are often cured if they can be surgically removed
-
Malignant tumors
- Cancerous
- More difficult to treat
- Grow rapidly
- Usually invade surrounding brain and nervous tissue
Brain tumors are classified as a primary or secondary tumor. Secondary brain tumors originate from another part of the body. They most often occur in people who have a history of cancer. But in rare cases, a metastatic brain tumor may be the first sign of cancer that started elsewhere. Any cancer can spread to the brain, the most common ones being breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.
Primary brain tumors originate in the brain and are named according to the type of cell they originate from. The most common primary brain tumors are astrocytomas, also known as gliomas (these tumors come in different grades according to their aggressiveness) and meningioma (a most often benign tumor arising from the coating of the brain).
Brain Tumor Treatment
There are several standard treatments for brain tumors, depending on the type:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy including stereotactic radiosurgery
- Chemotherapy
- Anti-angiogenic therapy targeting tumor blood vessels leading to tumor starvation
Many new cutting-edge treatments are currently being studied, including vaccines, and other personalized, targeted therapies that are directed at the molecular changes of one's individual brain tumor.
Risk Factors
- Occupation: some types of brain tumors are more frequent among workers in certain industries, such as oil refining and rubber manufacturing and workers exposed to ionizing radiation.
- Age: The risk of a brain tumor increases with age. Brain tumors are most common in older adults. However, a brain tumor can occur at any age. Certain types of brain tumors occur almost exclusively in children.
- Radiation exposure: there has been some connection between ionizing radiation and brain tumors. This type of radiation typically comes from cancer treatment. Survivors of childhood cancer who have received radiation therapy involving the brain or spine are at an increased risk of brain or spine tumors.
- Family History: While most brain tumors are not familial, a small percentage of tumors occur in patients with certain genetic syndromes that increase the risk of brain cancer.
Currently, it is not believed that head injuries cause brain tumors to develop. There is also no conclusive evidence linking cell phone use, microwaves or electromagnetic fields related to power lines to brain tumor development.
Signs and Symptoms of Brain Tumors
Symptoms of a brain or spinal cord tumor can happen suddenly or may become worse over time. Symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting/Nausea
- Balance problems
- Personality changes
- Seizures
While these symptoms are not always caused by brain tumors, you should consult your doctor if they persist.
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Learn more about benign and malignant brain tumors and how Gamma Knife radiosurgery can be used as a treatment approach.Read More
