Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

What to Expect: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gamma Knife used for?

Is the Gamma Knife approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?

What, exactly, will happen on the day of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?

Will I be sedated?

How long does the procedure take?

Does it hurt?

Who is involved with the treatment plan for the Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?

How quickly will the treatment work?

What are the side effects?

How is Gamma Knife Radiosurgery different than standard external beam radiation therapy (radiotherapy)?

What is meant by "cure" in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?

Why is it called Gamma Knife?

Is it covered by insurance?

What is the Gamma Knife used for?

The physicians of the Ohio Ear Institute , LLC use Gamma Knife radiosurgery to treat two different types of tumors: acoustic neuroma and glomus jugulare. Each of these tumors are benign, slow-growing tumors that grow in and around the deep structures of the ear. Since these tumors are slow-growing, there are three broad treatment options for each of these tumors: observation, traditional open surgery and Gamma Knife radiosurgery. There are a set of complex pros and cons that must be considered when choosing any of these options. Please consult a member of the Ohio Ear Institute , LLC to discuss these options in detail.

Is the Gamma Knife approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?

Yes, the Gamma Knife procedure was approved by the FDA in 1988 and has since been used to treat hundreds of thousands of patients around the world.

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What, exactly, will happen on the day of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?

After patients arrive at the Gamma Knife Center they are given a mild sedative (children are often completely anesthetized). Shortly after that time, a box-shaped head frame is attached to the head with four screws (two in front and two in back). The key to the gamma-knife's precision lies in this box-shaped frame. The frame serves two purposes: 1. It holds the patient's head perfectly still when radiation is given. 2. The frame acts as a reference point in determining exactly where the beams of radiation should converge.

The four spots on the scalp where the screws enter are numbed first with injections containing an anesthetic similar to that used by dentists. Hair will not be shaved, but it may be tied back into a ponytail if it is long. The head-frame is lightweight, so patients are able to move their head around after the frame is attached to the skull.

Once the head-frame is attached, an imaging scan (MRI or CT) is performed to locate the exact area inside the skull that needs treatment. Even though a scan may have been done before, these scans must be repeated with the head-frame in place.

A transparent plastic box is attached to the head-frame for the imaging scans. This box has special material in it that acts as localizer when the physicians plan the necessary radiation configuration used for treatment.

After the imaging scans are taken, it may take an hour or more for the targeting plan to be computed. During this waiting period, patients are taken to an area in the Gamma Knife Center where they can relax.

When it is time for the treatment, the patient is asked to lie down in the radiation machine so that the patient's head is put into a helmet. The helmet attaches to the head-frame, which keeps the head perfectly still. This type of setup ensures that there is no head movement. The lack of head movement allows the radiation beams to converge on the target and not on the healthy tissue surrounding the target area(s).

The number of minutes that each radiation dose lasts is determined during the dose planning. Treatment may include multiple doses. Sometimes, more than one type of helmet and head position is used to deliver the radiation.

The head-frame stays on the head through the entire procedure. When the frame is removed, the places on the scalp where the screws entered may be a little tender, but the pin sites typically do not scar. Some patients may have a headache or feel nauseated for a few hours after the procedure.

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Will I be sedated?

Adult patients will be given a pill to take prior to placement of the head frame. The pill causes a sensation of relaxation, but patients are still awake. The scalp is numbed (anesthetized) with an anesthetic similar to that used by dentists.

Young children are given a general anesthetic for the entire procedure including placement of the head frame.

How long does the procedure take?

Patients are asked to come to the Gamma Knife Center early in the morning. The head frame is typically placed shortly after 6 am. The actual time of radiation varies depending on the size and location of the area to be treated. Most patients go home before Noon on the day of the procedure.

Does it hurt?

No. The procedure itself is not painful. Patients sometimes complain of a pressure sensation when the pins are used to secure the head frame to the skull. The skin of the scalp, however, is numbed (anesthetized) with an anesthetic similar to that used by dentists. So, there is no pain even during placemen of the head frame. The head frame is removed painlessly at the end of the procedure.

Who is involved with the treatment plan for the Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?

Dr Ryzenman (i.e. a neurotologist), a radiation oncologist and a physicist are the three team members that are involved with designing the treatment plan on day of the procedure. Each of these three different team members has expertise in specific areas related to the treatment. The neurotologist has special expertise in the anatomy and physiology of the anatomical area to be treated. The radiation oncologist has expertise in the amount of radiation to be used and a knowledge of the side effects of radiation. Finally, the physicist is an expert in radiation biology and the equipment used to deliver the radiation.

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How quickly will the treatment work?

The effect of a Gamma Knife treatment can be seen in weeks to months, not immediately as with traditional, open surgery.

What are the side effects?

Headache and nausea my occur within the first 24 hours after treatment. These side effects are often short term, uncommon, and often effectively treated if brought to the attention of the doctor or nurse.

Long term side effects are related to both the type of tumor that is treated, as well as the size of the tumor. For a detailed discussion of long term risks of the Gamma Knife, please consult your doctor.

How is Gamma Knife Radiosurgery different than standard external beam radiation therapy (radiotherapy)?

With standard external beam radiation therapy, tumors and much or all of the surrounding brain are treated with the same dose of radiation. Standard external beam radiation is given in small increments over several weeks to allow normal brain tissue to recover from the harmful effects of the external beam radiation. The brain can only absorb a certain dose of radiation, beyond which no further treatment is advisable.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, on the other hand, allows radiation to be largely confined to the target (e.g. a brain tumor) itself and little radiation reaches the surrounding brain. The treatment is given in one session, not in fractions over a period of days or weeks, as is the case for external beam radiation. Finally, if the tumor re-grows, or new tumors appear, patients can be retreated with radiosurgery. Usually patients cannot be retreated by radiotherapy.

What is meant by "cure" in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?

The cure of a brain tumor by radiosurgery means that the tumor loses its ability to grow and remains the same size, never growing again. The intensely focused gamma rays destroy the ability of the cells to divide. Sometimes benign tumors actually shrink over time and malignant tumors may completely disappear. This curative process occurs over months to years.

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Why is it called Gamma Knife?

The Swedish inventor, Professor Lars Leksell, coined this term because the machine utilizes Gamma radiation from a cobalt source to destroy tumors or treat other brain pathologies. The Gamma radiation acts like a surgeon’s scalpel, thus “the Knife” in its ability to precisely conform the radiation to the tumor shape.

Is it covered by insurance?

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