Gamma Knife Center

The Gamma Knife is a safe, non-invasive, technologically advanced device for treating deep-seated brain tumors and an increasing number of conditions—including those that were once considered inoperable and those for which other therapies are ineffective—without incisions and with little or no pain.

Gamma Knife treatment is offered as part of a full set of precision radiation therapy techniques. A team of neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists, with specialized expertise in Gamma Knife treatment and other techniques, collaborate to determine the best approach for each patient. More than 5,000 patients have been successfully treated with the Gamma Knife to date.

In the Gamma Knife Center, we research how to bring about even better outcomes in the treatment of patients with any of the following conditions:

  • deep-seated brain tumors
  • acoustic neuroma
  • meningioma
  • pituitary tumors
  • pineal tumors
  • metastases
  • glial and astrocytic tumors
  • skull base tumors
  • other benign and malignant tumors
  • arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
  • neurological disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia and Parkinson's disease

The Gamma Knife is not a knife, but rather a highly developed treatment system, capable of directing up to 201 beams of gamma radiation to converge, with pinpoint accuracy, on a targeted abnormality within the brain. When concentrated, the rays provide enough radiation to treat the diseased area, while the low intensity of each individual beam ensures the safety of the surrounding healthy brain tissue. Treatment usually consists of a series of exposures, each lasting approximately 10 minutes. Patients experience little or no discomfort and most are able to go home within a day. The Gamma Knife’s precision makes it appropriate for both pediatric and adult patients.

Studies consistently demonstrate that experienced surgeons and interventional radiologists at neuroscience centers of excellence achieve the best possible patient outcomes.