Gamma Knife South Africa

Benefits

Introduction

The main benefit of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery is the delivery of a high dose of radiation to a tumour with a sharp fall-off of radiation. This results in a low radiation dose to the surrounding healthy brain tissue. Due to the high radiation doses being delivered, less treatments are required compared to other forms of radiotherapy. Gamma Knife radiosurgery has sub-millimetre accuracy. It is non-invasive, so the healing time is less than that required after conventional surgery which can see a patient requiring several days in intensive care.

Other benefits

There are numerous other benefits to Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery.

01.

Less invasive treatment with reduced risks

Gamma Knife is a safer alternative to standard brain surgery (neurosurgery) that requires:

  • Incisions into the scalp
  • An opening in the skull and membranes surrounding the brain
  • Dissection into brain tissue.

02.

Minimal discomfort

Because there is no incision, discomfort for patients is minimised through:

  • Reduced surgical risks
  • No hospital stays
  • Shorter recoveries.

03.

Fewer complications

Many neurosurgeons choose Gamma Knife because there are fewer surgical complications. These include:

  • Cerebral spinal fluid leak
  • Haemorrhage
    Infection
  • Physical trauma or disruption of normal brain function.

04.

Solution for hard-to-reach areas in the brain
Gamma Knife treatment is usually performed when a tumour or other abnormality in the brain is too hard to reach with standard neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons can reach parts of the brain and manage disorders that are often not treatable with conventional surgery without risk.

05.

High precision sparing surrounding healthy brain tissue
With greater precision, the Gamma Knife produces targeted high dose radiation while limiting the radiation dose to surrounding tissue and sparing healthy brain tissue.

06.

Superior ability

Compared with other systems, Gamma Knife radiosurgery has a superior ability to spare healthy brain tissue. To ensure complete destruction of a lesion in the brain, other radiosurgery systems rely on high doses of radiation which often harms otherwise healthy tissue that surrounds the lesion.

07.

Shorter treatment and recovery times

With Gamma Knife radiosurgery, the number of treatments is less than with conventional radiation therapy. Treatment is usually completed in one day whereas conventional radiotherapy may be given over the course of six weeks. Patients are typically back to their normal routines within a day or two. With surgery, the recovery period can also be lengthy.

08.

General anaesthetic and overnight hospital stay rarely required
For adult patients, a general anaesthetic is rarely required as is hospitalisation.

09.

Fewer side-effects
Radiosurgery has a lower risk of side effects compared with other types of traditional surgery or radiation therapy.

Benefit round-up: Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery

benefits
Gamma Knife treatment is a good option in cases where: