Why Gamma Knife is better than conventional surgery
Unique tool for brain disorders
The Gamma Knife is a surgical tool
designed exclusively for the treatment of brain disorders. Gamma
Knife surgery is recognized worldwide as the preferred treatment for the
following:
· brain tumors
· arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
· trigeminal neuralgia
· inoperable deep lesions
·
adjunctive therapy for treatment of residual or recurrent
lesions unresolved
by conventional neurosurgery
·
patients who are not suitable for conventional
neurosurgery because of
illness or advanced age
Minimum risk
Gamma Knife surgery is unique in that no surgical
incision is made to expose the inside of the brain, thereby reducing the
risk of surgical complications, such as hemorrhage and infection. It also
eliminates the side effects and dangers of general anesthesia.
The lesion being treated receives a high
dose of radiation with minimum risk to nearby tissue and structures.**
Low cost
The cost of Gamma Knife procedure is usually less costly
than conventional neurosurgery and it is covered by most insurance plans.
Minimal discomfort
Patients experience little discomfort. The vast majority
of MCG's Gamma Knife patients find the experience to be very comfortable.
Brief hospitalization
This effective single-session treatment may require an
overnight hospital stay, but is often done in an outpatient surgical
setting with periodic follow-up visits.
Conditions for which Gamma Knife is most effective
Intracranial tumors
· acoustic neuromas
· pituitary adenomas
· pinealomas
· craniopharyngiomas
· chordomas
· chondrosarcomas
· metastases
· glial tumors
Vascular malformations
· arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
· certain cavernous angiomas
Functional disorders
· trigeminal neuralgia
· intractable pain
· Parkinsonian tremor
· essential tremors
· epilepsy
Psychoneuro dysfunctions
· obsessive compulsive disorders
**The procedure is not experimental; more than 300,000 patients have been treated worldwide with no mortality related to the procedure. The design of the MCG Department of Neurological Surgery's Gamma Knife unit meets the rigorous standards for safety and efficacy set by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.