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By Mayo Clinic staff
Unlike standard radiation therapy, which is given daily for several weeks at a time, gamma-knife radiosurgery usually happens all in one day. Most of these procedures are done on an outpatient basis and don't require a stay in the hospital.
Before the procedure
Before the procedure begins, you'll need to have a lightweight frame attached to your head with four pins. During this process:
- None of your hair will be shaved
- You'll receive numbing shots in the four places on your scalp where the pins will be inserted
In addition to holding your head perfectly still, the head frame serves as a reference point in determining exactly where the beams of radiation should converge.
After the head frame is attached, you'll undergo imaging scans of your brain. The results are fed into a computerized planning system. This planning process may take several hours. During that time, you can relax in another room, but the head frame must remain attached to your head.
While children are often anesthetized for the procedure, adults are typically awake. You may be given a mild sedative to help you relax.
During the procedure
You'll lie on a bed that slides into the gamma-knife machine, and your head frame will be attached securely to a helmet inside the machine. The length of time the treatment will take can range from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size and shape of the target. During the procedure:
- You won't feel the radiation
- You won't hear any noise from the machine
- You'll be able to talk with the doctors via a microphone
After the procedure
Aftereffects of the procedure are rare but may include:
- Tender spots on your scalp where the frame was attached
- Headache
- Nausea
- Stereotactic radiosurgery. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/stereotactic.asp. Accessed July 31, 2008.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Radiosurgery Using the Gamma Knife. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 2006.
- Gamma Knife. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=gamma_knife. Accessed July 31, 2008.
- Chen CC, et al. Stereotactic cranial radiosurgery and radiotherapy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 31, 2008.
- Wen PY, et al. Treatment of brain metastases in favorable prognosis patients. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Singer RJ, et al. Brain arteriovenous malformations. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Zahid BH, et al. Trigeminal neuralgia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Park JK, et al. Acoustic neuroma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Abram S, et al. Stereotactic radiation techniques in the treatment of acoustic schwannomas. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2007;40(3):571-588.
- PituitaryFAQs, Pituitary Network Association. http://www.pituitary.org/faq/. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Patients with Pituitary Adenomas. Harrisburg, Pa. International RadioSurgery Association. http://www.irsa.org/Pituitary%20Guideline.pdf. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Kavanagh G, et al. Complications of cranial stereotactic radiosurgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=stereotactic&bhcp=1. Accessed Aug. 1, 2008.
- Link M. (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 7, 2008.
