University Hospitals has an active Gamma Knife Program that, in some cases,
may eliminate the need for traditional "open skull" surgery. Gamma knife
radiosurgery uses 201 narrow beams of cobalt gamma radiation that are all
precisely focused on a single tumor or blood vessel abnormality. The tissue
being treated receives the highest dose of radiation, while surrounding healthy
tissue is left minimally affected. The gamma knife procedure is generally
performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia.
Gamma knife radiosurgery has proven effective in the treatment of a broad
range of brain disorders:
- Arteriovenous malformations
- Small, benign tumors such as acoustic neuromas and meningiomas
- Benign or malignant tumors that would otherwise be considered inoperable or
too risky to remove
- Metastatic brain tumors
In certain cases, gamma knife technology is used in combination with
conventional surgery and radiation therapy. Gamma knife treatment is especially
beneficial for patients who are considered poor surgical candidates because of
age, health factors, or inability to tolerate general anesthesia.
At University Hospitals, the gamma knife team includes the neurological
surgeon, radiation oncologist, neuroradiologist, physicist, nurse, and support
personnel. All treatment is done in conjunction with the patient’s referring
physician, who is a vital member of this multidisciplinary team.