Gamma Knife treatment

Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery is different from traditional surgery using a scalpel.  It directs stereotactic (intensely focused) radiation beams through your skin and skull to treat a small, targeted area . Since accuracy is vital to make sure the radiation reaches the right area, a head frame is used to keep your head in the correct position.

This avoids invasive surgery requiring removing a small part of the skull to access the brain.

Because Gamma Knife radiosurgery is non-invasive there is less risk of infection, bleeding, and damage to healthy brain tissue around the area of the brain needing treatment.

It's used for cancerous and non-cancerous brain tumours , such as:

• Arteriovenous malformations or AVM (where arterial and venous blood vessels are twisted or tangled).
• Some forms of epilepsy.
• Trigeminal Neuralgia – a condition where you have severe stabbing pain in your face.
• Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma) - non-cancerous tumours that develop on the vestibulocochlear nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain.

Other treatments are available to treat brain conditions, each having its own benefits, risks, and considerations. Some of these are available only in specialist treatment centres.

Your treatment will depend on the type, size and location of the growth, or diseased cells, in your brain needing treatment and your general health.

The medical team will discuss all available treatment options with you so you can make an informed decision.

• CyberKnife® is similar to gamma knife in delivering stereotactic radiosurgery using photon radiation. However, its targeted radiotherapy is monitored by X-ray cameras and kept in line with the tumour site, so no head frame is needed. A single radiation beam rotates around your head multiple times focused on the tumour.
• Proton Therapy: Proton therapy is a type of external beam radiation therapy that uses proton beams instead of X-rays to target tumours.
• Brain surgery (craniotomy). You may be offered traditional open surgery if your tumour is easily accessible. You’ll usually be put to sleep for the operation.
• Anti-cancer drugs to slow down the growth of cancer cells.

Your Gamma Knife treatment will be planned by your medical team using imaging scans (e.g. MRI ,CT and PET  scans). A cerebral angiogram (using X-ray and contrast dye) may also be necessary depending upon your diagnosis. The scans can be carried out on the day of your treatment, or before.

These imaging scans help the operating team target the gamma knife radiation beam to the exact place needing treatment.

Fitting a mask or frame

You may need to wear a head frame during the Gamma Knife procedure to help keep your head completely still.

This is usually made in the radiotherapy room before your treatment and is individually moulded to fit the shape of your head and neck. Facial hair can sometimes affect the fit, so if you have a beard or moustache, you may be asked to trim or shave this.

On the day

On the day of treatment, you’ll be asked to come in with clean hair. You’ll need to wash it, but not put any products onto it, such as hair gel or hairspray.

You’ll also need to remove any make-up, nail varnish, hair pieces, contact lenses, glasses and dentures beforehand.

Fitting a head frame

You may have a lightweight box-shaped frame fitted to your head to keep it still. A local anaesthetic will be injected into your skin in several places so it can be secured with pins. This is usually two at the back of your head and two on your forehead.

It takes about 15 minutes and can feel uncomfortable and tight, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.

Children usually have the head frame fitted under general anaesthetic.

The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis, so you may be able to go home the same day.

It’s painless  but requires you to lie still sometimes for several hours.  If you need anything, or are uncomfortable, you’ll be able to talk to the team through an intercom.

Children usually have the treatment administered under a general anaesthetic.

After the head frame is removed after treatment, the scalp may bleed and remain sensitive for a few days.

Side effects from Gamma Knife radiosurgery may include:

• Tiredness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches and / or dizziness
• Seizures (fits)

Most side effects are temporary, and you should feel better in a few days. Your medical team will advise if you need pain relief or anti-sickness drugs.

Gamma Knife treatment is so precise that there’s a low risk of side effects or complications compared to other types of treatment on the brain.

Sometimes brain cells near to the areas targeted by the radiation can swell. If that happens, steroid medication can reduce the swelling.

You might feel some facial numbness due to radiation affecting a nerve in your face, which is usually a temporary side effect.

You could claim for your Gamma Knife treatment using your health insurance cover. The first step is to get a referral from your specialist. Then you can make a claim through MyAviva, online, over the phone.

If we confirm that your claim is eligible, we’ll pay for the treatment directly subject to policy terms and conditions, just be sure to tell us if your treatment, hospital, or specialist changes.

It’s good to have one less thing to worry about. It takes Aviva.