What is the Gamma Knife?

For many persons with deep seated intracranial tumors, vascular malformations and functional diseases, and for the medical professionals responsible for their care, the Gamma Knife Perfexion represents an exceptional treatment modality.

The Gamma Knife Perfexion is not a traditional scalpel at all, but a sophisticated, stereotactic radiosurgical instrument. By making it possible for as many as 192 distinct beams of Gamma radiation to converge on a single target, this high tech tool can obliterate lesions with pin point precision. As a result, lesions once considered inaccessible or inoperable can now be treated effectively, efficiently and non-invasively. Because the usual risks of open surgery and anesthesia are eliminated, patients experience minimal discomfort or side effects.

The Gamma Knife has been designed specifically for intricate, intracranial treatment. Due to that fact, this advanced technology offers accuracy and control far exceeding that of other radiosurgical procedures, or linear accelerator administered radio therapy.

How does it work?

The Gamma Knife primary component is a large heavily shielded hemisphere containing 192 Cobalt 60 sources. Prior to the start of treatment, the patients head is positioned so that the individual beams converge at the target to deliver a single high dose of focused, ionizing radiation.

The geometry of the irradiation field is determined by the number of beams employed, the number of exposures and the position of the patients head inside the hemisphere’s cavity in relation to the known focal point. Neurosurgeons, Radiation Oncologists and Medical Physicists use computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cerebral angiography as well as computer-guided dosimetry to tailor treatment to each patient’s lesion volume and boundaries.

Using the Perfexion unit, individual beam collimation and the number of beams employed are automatically adjusted to deliver the radiation on target. By readjusting the collimator and head position and employing multiple exposures, even the most complex lesion shapes can be addressed and treated.

To see how the unit works with this Flash Video.