Radiosurgery: Frequently Asked Questions
What is radiosurgery?
Radiosurgery is the use of high frequent energy for cutting, cutting with simultaneous coagulation and coagulation procedures on human tissue.
Source: www.meyer-haake.com
What is stereotactic radiosurgery?
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) delivers a single, high dose of radiation in a one-day session. Several types of machines are used to administer radiosurgery: Gamma Knife, Linac, X-Knife, CyberKnife, and cyclotron. In an SRS procedure, a head frame is attached to the skull to hold the head in position (newer methods of SRS may use a mask instead of a head frame). Then CT or MRI scans are taken. With the aid of computer imaging, the location of the tumor is accurately calculated. ...
Source: www.braintumor.org
This technique delivers a well-defined beam of radiation to tumor cells. Because the technique is so precise, and normal tissue is avoided, a high dose can be delivered in a single treatment. Radiosurgery is a non-invasive procedure (that is, no cutting of tissue is involved), and is often used when the area to be treated cannot be safely reached by traditional surgery. ...
Source: www.brighamandwomens.org
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a minimally invasive approach for treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors and other brain disorders such as arteriovenous malformations, pituitary cysts, trigeminal neuralgia and some cases of tremor. SRS involves computer-guided, extremely precise delivery of high doses of radiation to the targeted area of the brain. By avoiding open craniotomy in appropriate patients, radiosurgery decreases risks as well as recovery time. ...
Source: www.pacifichillsneurosurgery.com
Stereotactic Radiosurgery focuses beams of radiation from multiple locations non-surgically to target tumors or lesions within the body and destroy cancerous cells.
Source: www.coastalcyberknife.com
What is Gamma Knife radiosurgery?
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a precise and powerful treatment for brain disorders. It is noninvasive, effective and safe. This makes it the optimal choice for treating a wide variety of conditions including benign or malignant brain tumors, blood vessel malformations, trigeminal neuralgia (also called tic douloureux) and tremor. There are other benefits to Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Pre-treatment preparation and the actual radiosurgery are performed in one day. Most patients can return to their normal routines in a day or so. ...
Source: www.pennhealth.com
The Gamma Knife replaces the surgeon's scalpel with a single, high dose of radiation. Like the surgeon's scalpel, the radiation eradicates the diseased area with a safe and effective approach. The patient wears a light weight head frame that attaches to a helmet, through which radiation is precisely focused at a single target. Only the tissue being treated receives a very strong dose of radiation while the surrounding tissue remains unharmed. ...
Source: www.gammaknifesanantonio.com
Gamma Knife (a registered trademark of Elekta Radiosurgery of Atlanta, GA) Radiosurgery replaces the surgeon's scalpel with a single, high dose of gamma radiation. Like the surgeon's scalpel, the Gamma Knife eradicates the diseased area with a safe and effective approach. The patient wears a lightweight head frame that attaches to a helmet, through which 201 beams of gamma radiation precisely focus at a single target. ...
Source: sdgkc.thehewlettgroup.com
Gamma Knife (a registered trademark of Elekta Radiosurgery of Atlanta, GA) Radiosurgery replaces the surgeon's scalpel with a single, high dose of gamma radiation. Like the surgeon's scalpel, the Gamma Knife eradicates the diseased area with a safe and effective approach. The patient wears a lightweight head frame that attaches to a helmet, through which 201 beams of gamma radiation precisely focus at a single target. ...
Source: gammaknifecanada.net
Who determines if radiosurgery is appropriate?
Medical necessity can be determined by a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist or other medical specialist after evaluating a prospective patient’s medical condition. Treatment options are then determined and discussed with the patient and family, so an informed decision may be made.
Medical necessity can be determined by a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist or other medical specialist after evaluating a prospective patient's medical condition. Treatment options are then determined and discussed with the patient and family, so an informed decision may be made.
Source: gammaknifeofstlouis.org
What is Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)?
Stereotactic Radiosurgery treats brain disorders by delivering a single high dose of radiation in a one-day session. Treatment involves the use of focused radiation beams delivered to a specific area of the brain to treat abnormalities, tumors, or other functional disorders.
Source: gammaknifeofstlouis.org
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) combines the principles of stereotaxy, or 3-D target localization, with multiple cross-fired beams from a high-energy radiation source to precisely target an abnormal (often times cancerous) lesion within a patient's body. This technique allows for maximum doses of radiation directly to the target, while normal surrounding tissue receives lower, non-injurious doses of radiation.
Source: www.saintfrancisdoctors.com
What is CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery?
CyberKnife signaled a new approach to stereotactic radiosurgery. It is FDA approved to deliver targeted radiation anywhere in the body. With sub-millimeter accuracy, CyberKnife can be used to treat tumors, cancers, vascular abnormalities and functional disorders. It achieves surgical-like outcomes without surgery or incisions. The radiation is delivered with pinpoint accuracy, minimizing radiation exposure to normal tissue around the tumor. ...
Source: www.healtheast.org
How is CyberKnife® Radiosurgery different?
Through the use of continuous imaging, the CyberKnife® of HOA is able to compensate for patient movement, making uncomfortable head frames obsolete. Also, the CyberKnife® of HOA uses a robotic arm as a radiation source, so many different body parts can treated. This makes the CyberKnife® of HOA much more convenient than the gamma knife, or other methods of stereotactic radiosurgery.
Source: www.cyberknifehoacny.com
Is CyberKnife Radiosurgery cost effective?
Cost studies have shown radiosurgery to be less expensive than conventional surgery because it eliminates lengthy post-surgical hospital stays, expensive medication and sometimes months of rehabilitation. Radiosurgery is usually reimbursed by most insurance companies and Medicare.
Source: www.nch.org
What is meant by "cure" in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?
The cure of a brain tumor by radiosurgery means that the tumor loses its ability to grow and remains the same size, never growing again . The intensely focused gamma rays destroy the ability of the cells to divide. Sometimes benign tumors actually shrink over time and malignant tumors may completely disappear. This curative process occurs over months to years. back to the top
Source: www.chicagoear.com
Is Gamma Knife radiosurgery covered by insurance?
Radiosurgery typically is reimbursed by most insurance companies, PPOs, HMOs and Medicare when indicated.
Source: www.pennhealth.com
Is Gamma Knife radiosurgery safe?
More than 30,000 patients safely undergo Gamma Knife radiosurgery each year. The method has been used worldwide since 1968. Gamma Knife radiosurgery allows patients to quickly return to their normal routines. In most cases, only a single procedure is necessary. Our experienced Pennsylvania Hospital Gamma Knife team provides patients with maximum safety and efficacy. ...
Source: www.pennhealth.com
Is Gamma Knife radiosurgery right for me?
Gamma Knife radiosurgery can successfully treat patients with a variety of disorders. Click here to view this list of disorders >>
Source: www.pennhealth.com
What are the complications of Gamma Knife radiosurgery?
Early complications may include:
Common complications:
Local pain and swelling in the scalp
Headache
Rare complications:
Skin reddening and irritation
Nausea
Seizure
Delayed complications may include:
Uncommon complications:
Local loss of hair in superficial lesions
Local brain swelling in the treatment site
Local necrosis in the treatment site
Rare complications:
Visual loss (dependent on diagnosis)
Hearing loss (dependent on diagnosis)
Source: www.gammaknifesanantonio.com
Early complications
common
local pain and swelling in the scalp
headache
rare
skin reddening and irritation
nausea
seizure Delayed complications
uncommon
local loss of hair in superficial lesions
local brain swelling in treatment site
local necrosis in the treatment site
rare
visual loss (dependent on diagnosis)
deafness (dependent on diagnosis)
Source: sdgkc.thehewlettgroup.com
How does radiosurgery work?
The technique that permits the precise identification and localization of such a small abnormality within the brain is called stereotaxy. Stereotactic radiosurgery is performed with the aid of a stereotactic head frame applied to the skull under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, imaging techniques called computerized tomography (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and angiography, which are used together with special ...
Source: neurosurgery.ucsf.edu
The technique that permits the precise identification and localization of such a small abnormality within the brain is called stereotaxy. Stereotactic radiosurgery is performed with the aid of a stereotactic head frame applied to the skull under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, imaging techniques called computerized tomography (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and angiography, which are used together with special ...
Source: neurosurgery.medschool.ucsf.edu
What are the advantages of stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy?
Whether used alone or as a complement to traditional surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy offers numerous benefits. For starters, these treatments can be performed safely and effectively on patients who wouldn’t be able to withstand traditional forms of brain or spinal surgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy can also treat tumors in dangerous locations, such as the optic nerve, brain stem or spinal cord. ...
Source: www.jeffersonhospital.org
What are the side effects of stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy?
For the vast majority of patients, there are virtually no side effects to stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy. However, as with any medical treatment, there are some possible side effects, including hearing loss and, to a lesser extent, cranial neuropathy and radiation necrosy. Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience’s rates for these side effects are among the best in the industry.
Source: www.jeffersonhospital.org
Who is a good candidate for gamma knife radiosurgery?
Patients whose primary cancer is in remission or well-controlled, and this can include stable non-brain metastases, are good candidates for gamma knife treatment provided that life expectancy is at least six months. The gamma knife radiosurgical team can assess a patient's prognosis by studying recent [no more than three weeks old] magnetic resonance images. These images should be mailed [hard copies, post] to: Dr. Masaaki YAMAMOTO Katsuta Hospital, MitoGamma House 5125-2 Nakane Hitachinaka, Ibaraki JAPAN 312-0011
Source: www.mitogammahouse.com
What Are The Advantages Of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?
Gamma Knife surgery is different from conventional radiation therapy of the brain because it is only directed to the target and spares unnecessary treatment of adjacent, normal brain. It differs because only a one day treatment is required rather than many treatments over several weeks and can be repeated if needed. It can be used in conjunction with conventional surgery as a boost and can be used in previously inoperable cases. ...
Source: sdgkc.thehewlettgroup.com
What is the advantage of shaped beam radiosurgery?
Traditionally, circular beams are used for radiosurgery. The resulting dose of such an approach is a spherical dose volume. As most lesions are very irregular in shape, several of those spherical dose volumes have to be composed together to cover the complex tumor shape. Other systems try to move the circular beam to “paint” the dose into the tumor volume over a time. Both approaches are time consuming and do not ideally tailor the dose to the exact shape of the tumor. ...
Source: www.ejgh.org
What is stereotactic radiosurgery, and how is CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery different?
During stereotactic radiosurgery, high doses of focused radiation beams are delivered from outside of your body to destroy a tumor or lesion inside of your body. It does not remove the tumor or lesion. Instead, it destroys tumor cells or stops tumor growth. Traditional stereotactic radiosurgery methods use an uncomfortable metal frame that is bolted to your skull to target the treatment. Because of the need for the metal frame, radiosurgery could only treat tumors in your head - until now. ...
Source: www.stmaryscyberknife.org
