Gamma Knife: Targeting the tumor from outside the skull

Roswell Park Cancer Institute is one of the first facilities in the world to be equipped with a Model 4C Gamma Knife. Used to treat both benign and malignant brain tumors, Gamma Knife surgery is a noninvasive, outpatient treatment that does not require general anesthesia. It targets tumors by hitting them all at once with 201 intersecting gamma ray beams. The precision of radiation delivery protects normal tissues near the tumor site and, for some kinds of tumors, makes the treatment more effective than standard radiation therapy.

Because Gamma Knife radiosurgery does not involve opening the skull, it eliminates the risk of infection and bleeding that can take place during conventional surgery. It is therefore an attractive option for patients who have other, complicating medical conditions that would make them ineligible for surgery.

Following Gamma Knife radiosurgery, the tumor remains inside the skull but does not grow, and may actually shrink. Many deeply embedded tumors that would be out of reach with conventional surgery can be treated successfully with the Gamma Knife.

The new 4C model at Roswell Park can fuse MRI and CT scans to help pinpoint the location of the tumor for more accurate delivery of the gamma rays, giving the medical team a powerful tool for treatment planning. Its automatic positioning system (APS) speeds the treatment process by automatically adjusting the patient’s position as needed.

The Gamma Knife can also be used to treat such other conditions as Parkinson’s disease and abnormal blood vessels in the brain.

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