How to Prepare for Gamma Knife Surgery

Gamma knife radiosurgery is one of the latest techniques available to treat tumors. This procedure replaces the scalpel with gamma radiation to treat the affected tissue. The diseased area can be eradicated safely and effectively with no surgical intervention. Read on to learn how to prepare for gamma knife surgery.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Radiation oncologist
• Neurosurgeon

Understand Gamma Knife Surgery

1. Realize a complete medical review by a specialist such as a neurosurgeon or radiation oncologist is necessary to be considered for gamma knife surgery.

2. Understand the gamma knife surgery has been successful in treating several benign and malignant brain tumor types.

3. Prepare to discuss the gamma knife procedure even if open brain surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy have been done in the past. Reports are favorable for the successful intervention of gamma knife surgery in such cases.

4. Recognize the time for results from gamma knife surgery varies. Depending on the condition being treated, the effects may be recognized in a matter of days. Other results may take several years to be realized.

Make Plans and Prepare for Treatment

1. Prepare for a procedure that is without pain or bleeding. Gamma knife surgery is usually performed with only a local anesthesia and mild sedation.

2. Realize the treatment usually takes between 15 minutes and an hour. The size of the tumor determines the amount of time required to treat. The entire process, though, may take several hours.

3. Expect a lightweight frame to be attached to your head after application of a local anesthetic. The frame is essential for maintaining stability of the head during imaging.

4. Prepare to have an MRI or CT imaging study done to pinpoint the precise location of the diseased tissue. This information is transferred to the gamma knife computer.

5. Expect to rest while the information is processed to determine an exact course of treatment. This can take up to two hours before initiating the actual treatment.

6. Realize you will feel no pain during the process of treatment. Once the treatment is complete, the frame will be removed, and you will be transferred to a room to rest.

7. Expect to be discharged after a brief period of observation. Most patients are released the following morning after the procedure.

8. Prepare to resume normal activities within a few days. Instead of the weeks it takes to recover from an open craniotomy, many patients are able to return to work or resume their daily routines in just a couple of days.

Tips & Warnings

• Gamma knife surgery is proving to be a cost-effective way to treat a variety of tumors. Most insurance companies cover the procedure.