Frequently Asked Questions about Gamma Knife

What is Gamma Knife® Surgery?

• Leksell Gamma Knife® is not really a knife at all; rather, it consists of very precisely focused beams of radiation that are directed to the treatment area in the brain.  There is no incision, no blood and virtually no pain.

Is this a new technology?

• While the Gamma Knife® at Saint Joseph’s Hospital employs the latest technology and computer software, the technique itself has been used for decades to treat deep-seated lesions and tumors which may otherwise be inoperable.  There are more than 200 units in use worldwide, with over 30,000 people treated annually.

How does Gamma Knife® treatment compare to traditional surgery?

• With traditional open skull surgery, patients can expect to spend up to two week sin the hospital and months convalescing at home.  Non-invasive Gamma Knife® surgery is completed in a matter of hours.  Patients generally go home with 24 hours and resume normal activities within a few days.

What brain disorders can be treated?

• Gamma Knife® is proven effective for serious brain disorders that include arteriovenous malformations, vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, trigeminal neuralgia and brain metastases.  Ongoing research into treating other disease states shows promise. 

Do I have to shave my head?

• No, there is no need to shave your head and the single radiation treatment should not affect your hair growth.

Will I experience immediate results? 

• Radiation treatments are designed to stop the growth of tumors or lesions, so the effects are usually seen over a period of weeks or months.  Your doctor will monitor your progress.

Why should I choose Saint Joseph’s Hospital?

• Saint Joseph’s Hospital is one of only 100 hospitals in the U.S. with this remarkable treatment equipment and boasts the latest, most advanced model.  The highly-skilled team at Saint Joseph’s, comprised of experienced neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and clinicians, is dedicated to providing the most technologically advanced means of treating brain disorders, as well as the highest level of compassionate care and excellent services.  This remarkable combination makes Saint Joseph’s the ideal choice for Gamma Knife® surgery.
  
  Leskell Gamma Knife® has become the most trusted radiosurgery product in the world, with more than 300,000 patients treated worldwide, over 2,000 published scientific papers and a 15-year follow-up study on patients.  When used by the expert, skilled Gamma Knife® medical team at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, it offers patients safe, gentle, effective treatment.
  
  

For more information, please contact:

Rebecca O. Heitkam, RN, BSN, CCRN, coordinator
Gamma Knife Center
Saint Joseph's Hospital
404-851-5513
or toll free at 1-866-SJGAMMA

or email
rheitkam@sjha.org