Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery uses many small gamma rays. These rays deliver a precise dose of radiation to the target to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. We deliver this to avoid damaging healthy brain tissue. Such radiosurgery can focus many beams of gamma radiation. It lets us treat one or more tumours during the same treatment. We use 192 radioactive sources to enable this.
Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy have revolutionised how we manage patients. This is particularly for patients with select brain tumours and brain disorders. Such patients had very limited treatment options 30 years ago. It is the gold standard in radiosurgery. It is useful for both adults and children with brain tumours. We also use this technology to treat non-cancerous neurologic disorders.
It lets our experts treat with extraordinary accuracy. This involves treating tiny tumours and other targets in the brain. This is a major benefit for our patients. It is a painless, precise treatment that kills cancer cells and treats. At the same time, it avoids damage to healthy brain tissue.
This new treatment may also give options for patients. Such patients may not have responded to other treatments. This can include for a range of non-cancerous conditions, such as Painful trigeminal neuralgia, Cranial vascular disorders, Epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Common diagnoses treated with Gamma Knife
Find out some of the conditions that the Gamma Knife can treat.
Tumours
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Vestibular Schwannoma (also known as Acoustic Neuroma)
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Meningioma
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Pituitary tumours: Pituitary adenoma, Craniopharyngioma
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Other Base of skull tumours: Schwannoma, Clivus Chordoma, Paraganglioma
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Multiple brain metastases (secondary cancer in the brain) – especially ≥ 5 that we need treat at the same time.
Vascular
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Arteriovenous Malformation
Functional Radiosurgery
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Trigeminal neuralgia
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Hypothalamic Hamartoma and refractory seizure disorders
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Refractory movement disorders; Essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease
Common diagnosis that are not treated with Gamma Knife
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Glioma family of brain tumours. These can include Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma and Oligodendroglioma grades 2 and 3
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Medulloblastoma
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Ependymoma
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Atypical and malignant meningioma
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Spine tumours
Gamma Knife patient information sheets
We may use either a mask or frame to keep you still during treatment depending on your condition. The following information sheets supply patient information about treatments.