AHN’s Neuroscience Institute is at the forefront of advancements in innovative treatment options. Using a comprehensive and state-of-the-art approach to treating brain cancers and brain tumors, AHN patients experience tailored and precise care options such as Gamma Knife.
Gamma Knife®* radiosurgery is a type of radiation therapy used to treat tumors, vascular malformations, and other abnormalities in the brain. Despite its name, Gamma Knife treatment doesn't involve any actual cutting. Instead, it uses highly focused beams of gamma radiation to precisely target and treat affected areas while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy brain tissue. How it works in cancer treatment:
The Gamma Knife is particularly useful for treating tumors that are difficult to reach with conventional surgery or for patients who are not good candidates for surgery.
The Gamma Knife is used to treat a variety of cancers that affect the brain. Here are some specific types:
Our highly experienced team of neuro-oncologists (brain cancer specialists) and neurosurgeons (brain surgeons) performs treatments that are only available at the very best hospitals in the country. By choosing AHN for your care, you will find:
Before undergoing Gamma Knife radiosurgery, consultations with your AHN care team take place. This ensures you have access to the experts who are managing your care and treatment plan, and you receive the information up front that will help you feel confident in the procedure. Your care team will give you specific instructions on what to expect and how to prepare, but generally your experience will involve a multidisciplinary team of experts who prioritize your individual needs.
Prior to the procedure, you may need to stop certain medications, and you may be asked to fast prior. If you can, line up people who may be able to help you after the procedure. You will need someone who can drive you home after the treatment and it would be helpful to have someone aid your recovery. If you have questions or concerns about this, talk with your AHN care team.
On the day of Gamma Knife radiosurgery, your AHN care team takes specific steps to ensure the precise targeting of the radiation and your overall comfort. There are two primary ways to conduct a Gamma Knife procedure: one that uses a head frame and one that is a mask-based treatment. Most Gamma Knife radiosurgery procedures done at AHN use the mask-based treatment since it is less invasive and allows for the radiation to be delivered in smaller doses to target cancer cells more effectively while sparing healthy tissue.
Since AHN performs both surgeries, we will give you an overview of each type.
The Gamma Knife mask-based procedure is an advanced form of radiation therapy primarily used to treat brain tumors, vascular malformations, and other neurological conditions. It’s a noninvasive procedure that delivers highly focused beams of radiation to the target area while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy brain tissue.
Gamma Knife procedures are performed in AHN’s specialized radiation oncology department within hospitals or dedicated cancer centers.
Before the procedure, detailed imaging of your brain (usually an MRI, sometimes combined with a CT scan or angiogram) is performed. This provides precise 3D images of the target area. Unlike older Gamma Knife procedures that used a rigid head frame screwed into the skull, the mask-based approach uses a custom-made thermoplastic mask. This mask is molded to your face and head, providing comfortable and accurate immobilization during treatment. This is crucial for ensuring the radiation beams are delivered precisely to the target.
Using the imaging data, your team of AHN specialists collaboratively plans the treatment. They determine the exact size, shape, and intensity of the radiation beams needed to treat the target while protecting healthy brain tissue. This involves sophisticated computer software.
For the treatment, you will be made comfortable and your custom mask will be securely fitted to ensure your head remains perfectly still. The focused gamma rays are then directed at the target from different angles. Individually, these beams are too weak to damage healthy tissue, but at their convergence point (the target), they deliver a potent dose of radiation.
You will be awake and able to communicate with the medical team throughout the treatment. There is no pain associated with the radiation delivery itself.
Once the radiation delivery is complete, the mask is removed, and you can usually go home after a short observation period. You will receive instructions for follow-up care and potential side effects.
This procedure isn’t used as often, but your AHN neurologist may feel that it might be right for your specific needs. Rest assured, your care is designed to achieve the best health outcome for you.
Once you have been prepped for the procedure, the head frame, similar to the shape of a halo, will be placed on your head. This is a critical step in the procedure as it keeps the head absolutely still during imaging and treatment, ensuring pinpoint accuracy. It provides a three-dimensional coordinate system that allows the medical team to precisely map the target area in the brain that needs to be treated.
Before attaching the frame, the scalp will be numbed with a local anesthetic at four points where small pins will secure the frame. While patients might feel some pressure, the procedure is generally not painful due to the local anesthetic. This part of the process usually takes about 15 – 20 minutes.
Once the head frame is in place, updated imaging studies will be performed while the patient is still wearing the frame. This could be an MRI, CT scan, or angiography, depending on the condition being treated. These images, combined with the head frame's coordinate system, provide the medical team with real-time, highly accurate information about the exact location and shape of the target.
After the team has the necessary information of where to target the radiation, you will be placed on a special bed that slides into the Gamma Knife machine. Your head, still with the frame, will be positioned precisely inside the machine. The machine then delivers hundreds of tiny beams of radiation that all meet at one specific point. Patients do not feel anything during the treatment.
After the treatment, the head frame is removed. You'll be monitored for a short period while in a recovery area to make sure you're feeling OK. You might have a mild headache or feel a bit tired. Since it's a noninvasive procedure, most patients go home the same day and can often resume their normal activities very quickly. You'll need someone to drive you home. The effects of the treatment happen gradually over weeks or months, so follow-up appointments with your doctor will be scheduled to monitor your progress.
There is the possibility for delayed side effects from the radiosurgery, which can include:
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a minimally invasive procedure that provides targeted treatment to those navigating tumors, vascular malformations, and other abnormalities in the brain. Given the complexity of the procedure, you likely have questions. Your AHN team at the neuroscience institute are available to get you the specific answers to your questions that can help you feel more confident in your treatment.
Gamma Knife surgery is considered a very safe and minimally invasive procedure. It is not traditional surgery in the sense of making incisions or opening the skull. Instead, it uses highly focused radiation beams to target diseased tissue in the brain. This precision minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue, leading to fewer risks and complications compared to open brain surgery. Patients typically experience little to no pain during the procedure and can often go home the same day.
Gamma Knife surgery aims to treat specific conditions, and its impact on life expectancy is directly related to the underlying disease being treated. For benign conditions like meningiomas or trigeminal neuralgia, a successful Gamma Knife procedure can lead to a normal or near-normal life expectancy. For malignant conditions like brain metastases or certain primary brain tumors, Gamma Knife can effectively control tumor growth and improve quality of life, potentially extending life. However, life expectancy in these cases is primarily determined by the overall prognosis of the cancer.
The success rate of Gamma Knife surgery is generally high, but it varies depending on the condition being treated. For benign tumors, such as acoustic neuromas and meningiomas, success rates (defined as tumor control or shrinkage) can be over 90%. For conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, pain relief success rates are also very high, often exceeding 80%. For malignant tumors like brain metastases, Gamma Knife is highly effective in local tumor control, with success rates often in the range of 80 – 90% or more.
While Gamma Knife is a versatile treatment, it is not suitable for everyone. Patients who may not be candidates include:
While generally safe, some potential drawbacks and side effects of Gamma Knife surgery can include:
To schedule an appointment or learn more about AHN neuroscience services, call 412-359-6200 in Pittsburgh or 814-452-7575 in Erie.
Gamma Knife® is a registered trademark of Elekta Instruments, Inc.
