Gamma Knife Advantages and Outcomes

Advantages

The main advantages are that the Gamma Knife procedure is noninvasive:

• Reduced risk of bleeding and infection
• Same-day procedure—most patients can go home the same day
• Short recovery—many patients return to their daily activities the next day

Stereotactic radiosurgery successfully treats hard-to-reach brain tumors, enabling the treatment of tumors or areas of the brain that are otherwise inoperable.

Stereotactic radiosurgery also has fewer limitations, providing an option for treating high-risk patients who, due to illness or advanced age, cannot undergo an open-skull procedure.

Treatment before or after traditional open-skull neurosurgery may decrease the likelihood of tumor regrowth and improve outcomes.

The Gamma Knife procedure is cost-effective—a fraction of the cost of an open-skull surgery. Savings are even greater when the savings of reduced recovery time and postoperative complications are considered. The Gamma Knife procedure is covered by Medicare and other insurers. 

Outcomes

There are over 3,500 peer-reviewed medical research articles written since Leksell’s first article in 1951 to support the use of Gamma Knife in open-skull neurosurgery. The technology is constantly evolving and new techniques are improving our ability to use the Gamma Knife. Our experts are at the forefront of these techniques.

As with any condition, there may be several options available. Our specially trained experts will develop a custom treatment plan specifically for you with the safest and most successful outcome.

Gamma Knife for Acoustic Neuromas

Approximately 90% of acoustic neuromas treated with Gamma Knife show disappearance, shrinkage, or no growth after treatment. Hearing is preserved in more than half of the patients. For smaller tumors, the rate of hearing preservation may approach 70% or more. Permanent facial paralysis is rare, occurring in ~1% of patients, as a result of reduced radiation dosages compared to those used in the past. It is important to note that treatment may not be a cure for acoustic neuroma. A small percentage of tumors treated with Gamma Knife will continue to grow and may require traditional, open-skull surgical treatment. 

Gamma Knife for Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)

Gamma Knife is generally used in patients with small AVMs, when the risk of hemorrhage is not too high, or when the patient is not a surgical candidate. The obliteration rate is approximately 75%. The radiation that is delivered leads to a slow closing off of the blood vessels in the AVM, with typical obliteration times of 1 to 3 years after the radiosurgery.

Progress is being made in treating larger AVMs using Gamma Knife. Although complete obliteration takes longer to achieve and requires more than one treatment, success is ~42%.

Gamma Knife for Meningiomas

Approximately 90% of meningiomas treated with Gamma Knife disappear completely, shrink, and stop growing, or not shrink but conclusively stop growing. About 10% of meningiomas will continue to grow despite stereotactic radiosurgery. Follow-up treatment for these tumors depends on size, location, and malignancy.

Gamma Knife for Metastatic Brain Tumors

Treatments for brain metastases include whole brain radiation therapy, surgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery, or a combination of these treatments, depending on size, number, and location of the tumor(s). Outcomes are also dependent upon these factors. Overall, data indicate that stereotactic radiosurgery combined with whole brain radiation therapy improves control of the brain tumors and improves the patient’s quality of life. In some cases, stereotactic radiosurgery alone is standard procedure.

Gamma Knife for Pituitary Adenomas

Treatments for pituitary adenomas include surgery, medical management, stereotactic radiosurgery, and fractionated external beam radiation therapy. In most cases, the initial treatment is either surgical resection of the tumor or medical management. Stereotactic radiosurgery is considered effective and safe in the management of residual or recurrent pituitary tumors. It may also be indicated as the initial treatment approach in certain cases.

Gamma Knife for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Within six months of Gamma Knife treatment, approximately 90% of patients report no facial pain. Thirty percent of these patients require a small dose of medication. A second treatment may be performed if the first treatment is unsuccessful or if the pain recurs after an initial successful treatment. About 80% of patients treated a second time obtain either complete or near complete pain relief. About 15% of treated patients will develop temporary facial numbness 6–9 months post procedure, and about 5% will develop permanent facial numbness. Although bothersome at first, most patients with facial numbness rapidly grow accustomed to it, and most are willing to accept numbness in lieu of pain.