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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a type of radiation therapy used to treat tumors and other abnormalities in the brain.
In Gamma Knife radiosurgery, specialized equipment focuses close to 200 tiny beams of radiation on a tumor or other target. Although each beam has very little effect on the brain tissue it passes through, a strong dose of radiation is delivered to the site where all the beams meet.
The precision of Gamma Knife radiosurgery results in minimal damage to healthy tissues surrounding the target. In some cases, Gamma Knife radiosurgery may have a lower risk of side effects compared with other types of radiation therapy. Also, Gamma Knife radiosurgery is often a safer option than is traditional brain surgery.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is usually a one-time therapy completed in a single day.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery overview. International RadioSurgery Association. http://www.irsa.org/radiosurgery.html. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- Gamma Knife surgery. International RadioSurgery Association. http://www.irsa.org/gamma_knife.html. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatments/Stereotactic%20Radiosurgery.aspx. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- Chen CC, et al. Stereotactic cranial radiosurgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=stereotactic. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- Arteriovenous malformations and other vascular malformations of the central nervous system fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/avms/detail_avms.htm. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- NINDS trigeminal neuralgia information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/trigeminal_neuralgia.htm. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and neurofibromatosis. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/acoustic_neuroma.aspx. Accessed March 19, 2013.
- Gamma Knife. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=gamma_knife. Accessed March 19, 2013.
- NINDS pituitary tumors information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pituitary_tumors/pituitary_tumors.htm. Accessed March 19, 2013.
- Kavanagh B, et al. Complications of cranial stereotactic radiosurgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 18, 2013.
- A typical treatment day. International RadioSurgery Association. http://www.irsa.org/treatment.html. Accessed March 19, 2013.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed March 19, 2013.
- Link MJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 15, 2013.
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