Gamma Knife
Unique offer only for AMS patients
Special prices. Individual approach. Urgent treatment plan.
High-precision irradiation of pathological formations of the brain
Gamma knife is a radiosurgical device that creates a high dose of radiation that acts strictly in the designated target volume of the brain. It is used to treat vascular malformations, malignant or benign neoplasms.
Today, the gamma knife is one of the best achievements of radiosurgery. The irradiation error is usually no more than 0.2 mm, which makes the device the most accurate among its analogues. In this parameter, the gamma knife is significantly ahead of the cyber knife and novalis, which were actively used earlier.
The use of the technology is especially relevant when the focus of pathology is localized near radiosensitive structures, when irradiation of adjacent tissues cannot be allowed. For example, the optic nerve or brain stem.
Additional precision when working with a gamma knife is achieved by fixing the patient's head in a special frame. He will not feel discomfort, but at the same time, accidental movements that can cause inaccuracies during irradiation are excluded.
Main indications for gamma knife radiosurgery
There are a number of conditions for which the Gamma Knife can be used:
Radiosurgery is often indicated for elderly people, for whom surgical intervention can be a serious stress for the body. Gamma knife shows high efficiency in comparison with conventional radiation therapy in the presence of metastases, as well as when affecting tumors that are particularly resistant to conventional radiation.
Features of gamma knife radiosurgery in Humanitas
One of the main requirements for the patient is calm. Nervousness and excessive excitement can complicate the work of specialists. Therefore, in some cases, sedatives can be used. Then a special stereotactic frame is installed on the head (under local anesthesia), CT and MRI of the brain are performed.
Once the images are obtained, an individual treatment plan is created for a specific patient, which is then transmitted to the control panel. Afterwards, the patient is placed on a couch, where his head is specially fixed so that the focus of the radiation beams affects the tumor directly. The duration of the procedure is quite variable. It can last from 1 hour or more. The time depends on the size of the neoplasm, its position and type.
The procedure using a gamma knife has a number of advantages:
Important: it is impossible to talk about any results of the procedure immediately after its completion. A pronounced effect may appear only after several months or even years. Sometimes, although rarely, additional treatment may be required: fractional radiotherapy or surgery. The need for this arises if gamma knife treatment is insufficient in a particular case.
Contraindications to Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
If the tumor size reaches 3-3.5 cm, this may become the main contraindication. The problem is that even with high accuracy, irradiation of a large area may provoke post-radiation complications, which Humanitas specialists try to avoid whenever possible. Also, treatment is contraindicated if symptoms of brain compression develop rapidly. This may be observed due to the large size of the tumor and its rapid growth.
To rule out contraindications, patients at the Humanitas clinic first undergo blood tests, an ECG of the heart, and an eye and ear examination. If no contraindications are found, the operation can usually be performed after a few days.
Gamma knife is a radiosurgical device that creates a high dose of radiation that acts strictly in the designated target volume of the brain. It is used to treat vascular malformations, malignant or benign neoplasms.
Today, the gamma knife is one of the best achievements of radiosurgery. The irradiation error is usually no more than 0.2 mm, which makes the device the most accurate among its analogues. In this parameter, the gamma knife is significantly ahead of the cyber knife and novalis, which were actively used earlier.
The use of the technology is especially relevant when the focus of pathology is localized near radiosensitive structures, when irradiation of adjacent tissues cannot be allowed. For example, the optic nerve or brain stem.
Additional precision when working with a gamma knife is achieved by fixing the patient's head in a special frame. He will not feel discomfort, but at the same time, accidental movements that can cause inaccuracies during irradiation are excluded.
Main indications for gamma knife radiosurgery
There are a number of conditions for which the Gamma Knife can be used:
- acoustic neuromas;
- malignant neoplasms of the pituitary gland or pineal gland;
- cavernous angiomas;
- intracerebral tumors;
- benign neoplasms in the brain, etc.
Radiosurgery is often indicated for elderly people, for whom surgical intervention can be a serious stress for the body. Gamma knife shows high efficiency in comparison with conventional radiation therapy in the presence of metastases, as well as when affecting tumors that are particularly resistant to conventional radiation.
Features of gamma knife radiosurgery in Humanitas
One of the main requirements for the patient is calm. Nervousness and excessive excitement can complicate the work of specialists. Therefore, in some cases, sedatives can be used. Then a special stereotactic frame is installed on the head (under local anesthesia), CT and MRI of the brain are performed.
Once the images are obtained, an individual treatment plan is created for a specific patient, which is then transmitted to the control panel. Afterwards, the patient is placed on a couch, where his head is specially fixed so that the focus of the radiation beams affects the tumor directly. The duration of the procedure is quite variable. It can last from 1 hour or more. The time depends on the size of the neoplasm, its position and type.
The procedure using a gamma knife has a number of advantages:
- Minimally invasive type, guaranteeing minimum trauma.
- The procedure takes place in one session.
- The procedure is painless and no incisions are required.
- Almost always, the patient is sent home on the same day.
Important: it is impossible to talk about any results of the procedure immediately after its completion. A pronounced effect may appear only after several months or even years. Sometimes, although rarely, additional treatment may be required: fractional radiotherapy or surgery. The need for this arises if gamma knife treatment is insufficient in a particular case.
Contraindications to Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
If the tumor size reaches 3-3.5 cm, this may become the main contraindication. The problem is that even with high accuracy, irradiation of a large area may provoke post-radiation complications, which Humanitas specialists try to avoid whenever possible. Also, treatment is contraindicated if symptoms of brain compression develop rapidly. This may be observed due to the large size of the tumor and its rapid growth.
To rule out contraindications, patients at the Humanitas clinic first undergo blood tests, an ECG of the heart, and an eye and ear examination. If no contraindications are found, the operation can usually be performed after a few days.