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    Gamma Knife1

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    The Gamma Knife was invented in Sweden in 1951 but was first used in 1968. It directs precisely focused radiation beams at brain tumors and other abnormalities to minimize radiation to healthy tissue. There are approximately 250 Gamma Knife centers worldwide that use Cobalt-60 sources and stereotactic frames to accurately target lesions with radiation in a non-invasive procedure. Common indications include brain metastases, skull base tumors, and certain benign tumors.

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    Gamma Knife1

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    48 views17 pages
    The Gamma Knife was invented in Sweden in 1951 but was first used in 1968. It directs precisely focused radiation beams at brain tumors and other abnormalities to minimize radiation to healthy tissue. There are approximately 250 Gamma Knife centers worldwide that use Cobalt-60 sources and stereotactic frames to accurately target lesions with radiation in a non-invasive procedure. Common indications include brain metastases, skull base tumors, and certain benign tumors.

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    The Gamma Knife was invented in Sweden in 1951 but was first used in 1968. It directs precisely focused radiation beams at brain tumors and other abnormalities to minimize radiation to healthy tissue. There are approximately 250 Gamma Knife centers worldwide that use Cobalt-60 sources and stereotactic frames to accurately target lesions with radiation in a non-invasive procedure. Common indications include brain metastases, skull base tumors, and certain benign tumors.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    48 views17 pages

    Gamma Knife1

    Uploaded by

    api-247561652
    The Gamma Knife was invented in Sweden in 1951 but was first used in 1968. It directs precisely focused radiation beams at brain tumors and other abnormalities to minimize radiation to healthy tissue. There are approximately 250 Gamma Knife centers worldwide that use Cobalt-60 sources and stereotactic frames to accurately target lesions with radiation in a non-invasive procedure. Common indications include brain metastases, skull base tumors, and certain benign tumors.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 17

    By Deb Norrell & Mariah Cordie

    Swedish invention in 1951 but first used in 1968


    Dr. Lars Leksell
    Brje Larsson

    1st seen in the US in 1987 in Pittsburgh


    Today, approx. 250 Gamma Knife centers in the world
    150 centers in the US
    Only two Gamma Knife centers in MN
    Mayo Clinic in Rochester

    U of MN Medical Center

    Directs precisely focused radiation beams at brain

    tumors, lesions, or other abnormalities


    AKA- Radiosurgery
    Gamma Knife can minimize the amount of radiation
    to surrounding healthy brain tissue
    Individually, each beam is too weak to damage the
    normal tissue it crosses on the way to the target,
    but when focused on the target, the beam
    intersects and combined radiation is sufficient to
    treat the targeted area.

    Has approximately 200 sources of Cobalt-60 loaded

    within the treatment unit


    Accuracy of more than 0.5mm (strand of hair)
    Has four steps:
    1. Attaching head frame

    2. Imaging
    3. Treatment Planning
    4. Treatment Procedure

    Special stereotactic head

    frame
    Stereotactic=precise

    positioning in 3-D space


    Frame is attached to

    patients head using


    small screws
    Local anesthetic is used

    With head frame in place:


    MRI, CT, Angiogram
    Imaging is done to determine the size, shape, and
    location of tumor or lesion
    There are coordinate markers on the head frame that
    allow physician to develop treatment plan

    Patient is able to rest during this step, this process can

    take a very long time


    Physician looks at images and uses the Gamma Knife
    3-D planning software to construct a treatment
    protocol
    Gamma Knife has unique helmets that have approx.
    200 holes in it for radiation to be delivered to the
    brain- these helmets are one size however they have
    individual collimators that are customized for the
    individual patients treatment.

    Patients head frame is secured to the helmet

    Patient goes through a series of treatments that can

    last from 2 to 45 minutes


    The whole treatment procedure can take a few minutes
    to a few hours
    The patient is completely awake
    The procedure is painless

    http://www.gammaknife.com/

    Cancers that have metastasized to the

    brain, head, or neck


    Tumors in base of skull
    Malignant gliomas
    Acoustic neuromas
    Pituitary tumors
    Meningiomas

    Once treatment is finished, the head

    frame is removed
    Side effects from where the frame was
    attached:
    Mild headache
    Minor swelling

    They are usually temporary

    Fatigue
    Swelling
    Scalp or hair problems

    scalp may be red or sensitive where the

    device was attached to the patients head

    Permanent effects will

    occur over time meaning


    the effects will be seen
    over a period of weeks to
    months
    Patients physician will
    follow up with additional
    imaging to assess their
    progress

    Considered standard of care for its indications

    No need for patients to have to shave their hair


    Cost effective over open surgery
    About the cost due to decreased recovery time

    Generally reimbursed by insurance


    So accurate that patients receive only one session
    Patients can resume their normal routine very soon

    after procedure

    Studies show strong treatment success

    rates
    Local control of tumors in any brain
    location exceeds an average of 85%
    50,000 patients are treated with
    Gamma Knife/year

    Elekta (2013). Gamma knife. Retrieved from

    http://www.gammaknife.com/
    University of Texas. (2013). Gamma knife radiosurgery.
    Retrieved from http://www.mdanderson.org/patientand-cancer-information/cancer-information/cancertopics/cancer-treatment/radiation/gamma-knife

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