What is Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy?
Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat tumors, vascular malformations and other abnormalities in the brain. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an alternative to standard brain surgery (neurosurgery).
Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy results in minimal damage to healthy tissues surrounding the target. When compared to other types of radiation therapy Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy may have a lower risk of side effects. Also, this radiation therapy is often a safer option than is traditional brain surgery. Read on to know why Gamma Knife radiosurgery is done and risks involved in it is.
Why is Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy done?
As mentioned earlier Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy is a safer alternative to standard brain surgery (neurosurgery), which requires surgical treatment in the scalp with an opening in the skull and membranes and dissection into brain tissue. This type of radiation treatment is often performed when:
- A tumor or other abnormality in the brain is too hard to reach with standard neurosurgery treatment.
- A person isn’t strong and healthy enough to undergo standard surgery
- A person prefers a less invasive treatment.
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Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy is commonly used to treat the following conditions:
1: Brain tumor:
Radiosurgery is useful in the management of brain tumors like small noncancerous known as benign and cancerous known as malignant. This treatment will damage the genetic material (DNA) in the tumor cells. This way the cells will lose their ability to reproduce and may die, and the tumor may gradually shrink.
2: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM):
AVMs are abnormal tangles of arteries and veins in the brain. In an Arteriovenous malformation, blood flows from the arteries to veins, bypassing smaller blood vessels known as capillaries. If AVMs are left untreated it may “steal” the normal flow of blood from the brain, causing a stroke, or lead to bleeding in the brain. When Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy is implemented it destroys the AVM and causes the blood vessels to close off over time.
3: Trigeminal neuralgia:
Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder on the trigeminal nerves which relay sensory information between the brain and areas of forehead, cheek and lower jaw. This nerve disorder will result in disabling facial pain that feels like an electric shock. After Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy, many people have experienced pain relief within a few days to a few months.
4: Acoustic neuroma:
An acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous (benign) tumor that develops along the nerve of balance and hearing leading from your inner ear to your brain. When the tumor puts pressure on the nerve, you will experience hearing loss, dizziness, loss of balance and ringing in the ear. As the tumor grows, it will add more pressure on the nerves affecting sensations and muscle movement in the face. Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy may stop the growth of an acoustic neuroma.
5: Pituitary tumors:
Tumors at the base of the brain (pituitary gland) can cause a variety of serious problems. The pituitary gland will regulate the hormones in your body that control various functions, such as your stress response, metabolism and sexual function. Radiosurgery will help to shrink the tumor and lessen the disruption of pituitary hormone regulation.
These are the most common problems that can be treated well when undergoing Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy. You might experience side effects after the treatment but nothing to worry as they are temporary. Some people might experience headaches, nausea or vomiting. Other side effects may include numbness or weakness, Temporary or permanent hair loss at the treatment site and swelling of the rain.
Success rates of Gamma Knife surgery:
This Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy is best for smaller tumors. The success rates vary with the type of tumors treated. However, depending on the condition of the patients the success rates can be as high as 70 to 90 per cent. Gamma Knife Radiation Therapy is a one-time therapy completed in a single day. Thus, when it comes to treating the tumors, Gamma Knife Surgery in India is the best option. India provided you with the best treatments at low cost with excellent doctors and resources.
