WVU Neurosurgery - Gamma Knife
Benefits to Patients
No surgical complications – The risks of surgery, such as infection, hemorrhage, or leakage of cerebral spinal fluid, are nonexistent. - No general anesthesia – The procedure is performed with only local anesthesia and mild sedation, eliminating the side effects and risks of general anesthesia.
- Highly targeted treatment – Gamma Knife radiosurgery affects only the diseased areas of the brain, sparing unnecessary radiation of adjacent, normal brain tissue.
- One-day treatment – Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a one-day treatment, compared to other treatments that must be repeated several times. It can be repeated if necessary.
- Cost effective – Gamma Knife radiosurgery is much less expensive than traditional brain surgery. Patients are usually able to leave the hospital within a day and resume normal activities immediately. Post-surgical disability and convalescent cost are nonexistent.
- Patient-friendly – Since the Gamma Knife is minimally invasive, patients experience virtually no discomfort. Most patients are treated on an outpatient basis.
- Excellent success rate – After two decades of research, no other neurosurgical tool has shown results as impressive as the Gamma Knife. After treatment, the majority of brain tumors disappear or stop growing over time. Usually, after one year 40 percent of AVMs are cured, increasing to 80 percent two years after treatment. More than 150,000 patients have had Gamma Knife radiosurgery with no mortality and minimal morbidity reported. The Gamma Knife's many benefits often make it a treatment of choice.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery offers greatly reduced risks and equal or greater benefits compared to traditional neurosurgery or radiation therapy.
