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
05.
High precision sparing surrounding 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
09.
Fewer side-effects
Benefit round-up: Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery

Gamma Knife treatment is a good option in cases where:
- The patient is too unwell or unstable to undergo surgery
- The tumour is inaccessible by conventional surgical techniques
- The tumour is dangerously close to critical structures, such as the brain stem or optic nerve
- The tumour is inoperable
- The patient has metastatic brain tumours but is already having radiation therapy or chemotherapy for their primary cancer
- The patient has metastatic brain tumours that have recurred after previous radiation
- The patient has had surgery but uses Gamma Knife to reduce the risk of recurrence
- The patient has had traditional surgery, but this has been ineffective.