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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 as many as 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 and, in some cases, 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 Aug. 3, 2010.
- Gamma Knife® surgery. International RadioSurgery Association. http://www.irsa.org/gamma_knife.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatments/Stereotactic%20Radiosurgery.aspx. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Gamma Knife®. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=gamma_knife. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=stereotactic. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Brain tumors. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatments/Brain%20Tumors.aspx. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Arteriovenous malformations. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatments/Arteriovenous%20Malformations.aspx. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Trigeminal neuralgia fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/detail_trigeminal_neuralgia.htm. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
- Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and neurofibromatosis. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/acoustic_neuroma.html. Accessed Aug. 4, 2010.
- NINDS pituitary tumors information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pituitary_tumors/pituitary_tumors.htm. Accessed Aug. 4, 2010.
- Kavanagh G, et al. Complications of cranial stereotactic radiosurgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 4, 2010.
- A typical treatment day. International RadioSurgery Association. http://www.irsa.org/treatment.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2010.
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