Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM, available at Archbold, is a type of radiation treatment used to treat
disorders in the brain and upper spine, such as brain tumors. This advanced
treatment delivers highly accurate gamma radiation to the brain without
any incisions. It has transformed treatment for patients across the region
with brain disorders, brain tumors and other cancers that have traveled
to the brain.
Archbold is one of only approximately 275 hospitals worldwide to offer
Gamma Knife technology and is the only hospital in the Thomasville region
with Gamma Knife Perfexion—the latest and most precise radiosurgery
technology available. Using this state-of-the-art equipment, cancer treatment
teams at Archbold have successfully treated more than 1,200 patients since
the hospital-acquired it in 2003, thanks to the generosity of
Archbold Foundation donors.
How Gamma Knife Works
Despite the name, there is no actual knife. Patients are fitted with a
painless head frame that guides physicians to the portion of the brain
that needs treatment. Only local anesthesia (about the same amount as
dentists use) is involved in treatment, and it is given when the head
frame is fitted. Then, you lie on a comfortable, flat surface that slides
into a machine—similar to getting an MRI.
Once inside the machine, Perfexion delivers highly accurate doses of radiation
that wrap around the complex shapes of the brain to treat a tumor or disorder.
The radiation has virtually no effect on the healthy brain tissue it passes
through. At the tumor site or area of affected tissue, all the beams meet
to deliver a high dose of radiation.
Outpatient Procedure, Fast Recovery
Gamma Knife treatments take place on a single day and last anywhere from
20 minutes to four hours. Typically, only one session is necessary.
Because the treatments are fairly short, patients rarely, if ever, have
to spend the night in the hospital, although an overnight stay would be
arranged if a patient needed observation. Most patients return to day-to-day
activities, including work, 24–48 hours after treatment. Typically,
no physical therapy or other rehabilitation services are needed, saving
you time and money.
Increased Safety
Because Gamma Knife treatment is noninvasive and requires only a small
amount of local anesthesia, the risk of complications is low. Local anesthesia
is used when patients are fitted with a painless head frame that allows
our physicians to deliver radiation accurately.
Effective treatment for a wide variety of brain conditions
Gamma Knife surgery is usually a one-day, outpatient treatment. Occasionally
a patient may stay overnight for observation. Most patients return to
pre-treatment activities, including work, 24-48 hours later. Usually,
no physical therapy or rehabilitation is needed. For all of these reasons,
radiosurgery is an extremely cost-effective treatment.
Treatable Conditions
Gamma Knife treatment may be used along with conventional surgery, chemotherapy
or other radiation treatments. It is an option for patients with many
conditions, including:
Acoustic neuromas
Benign brain tumors
Craniopharyngiomas
Head and Neck cancers
Meningiomas
Multiple metastatic tumors
Pinealomas
Pituitary adenomas
Spinal arteriovenous malformations
Spinal tumors
Trigeminal neuralgia
Residents of Southwest Georgia don’t have to travel for advanced,
state-of-the-art cancer care.
Learn More
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with a brain tumor, Archbold
is here for you. If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn
more about Gamma Knife treatment for any reason, please fill out the form
at the link below.
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