What is a Gamma Knife?
The Gamma Knife is not a knife, but a highly sophisticated technology that can be used to replace some conventional neurosurgical procedures. The body of the Gamma Knife is a shielded container in which 201 sources of Cobalt 60 that are constantly emitting narrow beams of gamma radiation. These individual beams converge at a central point that is fixed (fixed isocenter). The patient wears a lightweight head holder (frame) similar to a ‘halo’ often associated with head immobilization seen in neck injuries. The frame is placed on the patient’s head using local anesthetic. At the beginning of a treatment session, the patient lies on a sliding couch and the head frame is attached to a collimator helmet which adds additional focus to the beams of radiation. Computer-driven motors on the helmet position the patient’s head so that the target for treatment will lie at the focus of the beams of radiation. The actual treatment occurs when the shielding doors of the Gamma Knife have opened and th
Related Questions
- Do neurosurgeons performing gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (gamma knife) qualify as authorized users (AUs) with regard to the 64E-5.637(6), FAC, requirement for an AU to be physically present throughout the entire patient treatment involving the unit?
- How is CyberKnife® different from other robotic radiosurgery systems, like Gamma Knife or TomoTherapy?
- When Is Gamma Knife Treatment Used for Parkinsons Disease?
