Gamma Knife Surgery Process Is a Kind of Radiation Therapy, Which Is Used To Various Abnormalities in the Brain Such As Vascular Malformations and Tumors

 

A gamma knife is a diagnostic tool used in radiation oncology. It is used when treating cancer in patients. In contrast to other types of radiation therapy, a gamma knife is a surgery with an electromagnetic blade, which helps in the destruction of a selected area of tissue with ionizing radiation instead of simply cutting with a scalpel. Like other forms of radiotherapy, it's generally used to cure cancer. Unlike other methods of radiotherapy, though, a gamma knife has been found to be useful in the treatment of other cancers besides cancer. Gamma knife radiosurgery helps in eradicating various issues related to the brain, such as tumor formation.

This technique is also being used by other radiation oncologists, such as cardiologists, orthodontists, and internal medicine specialists. The main use of a gamma knife in radiation oncology is the use of a low-dose, single session to boost the effectiveness of more powerful therapies. For instance, a typical low-dose dose can be used to boost chemotherapy in combination with other agents. Single sessions can also be used as adjunctive therapy to augment adjuvant therapy for patients with more severe cancers or to replace it when a patient is undergoing maintenance therapy with drugs, which lengthens the life expectancy of the cancer treatment. Sometimes, a single dose is all that's needed for patients; other times, a series of dosages may be necessary to achieve the intended results.

Most people undergoing either traditional brain surgery or radiation therapy don't need to stay in the hospital for the procedure. In most cases, they are discharged home after making their initial visit to the gamma knife treatment center. This allows them to return to work and care for themselves immediately. There are occasions, though, where patients need to stay in the hospital if their symptoms aren't abating and their dosages aren't sufficient.

The idea behind the gamma knife is that it works by using three-dimensional technology to correct problems with the focal point or converging beams. Focal points or focal spots within a tumor can become misaligned, creating an unbalanced look on the ultrasound image. This can cause a tumor to have an irregular shape or a change in shape and can lead to difficulties with visual acuity as well as functional abilities. In addition, some tumors may appear to be divergent, where the orientation of the beam is different from the other two dimensions.

Converging beams often occur when the primary radiation is directed at a side of the head, causing an irregular beam treatment that is very subtle. If left alone, these irregularities can lead to headaches and nausea, but with gamma radiosurgery, they can be corrected before the headache becomes severe. The procedure works by using two different knives, one aimed at the primary tumor while the other is directed at the secondary focal area. The gamma knife is specifically designed to be gentle and precise, minimizing potential trauma to the secondary site. After the knife makes its way through the skin, the focused radiation is measured and delivered, resulting in a much more efficient procedure.