Frequently Asked Questions


Question: What type of surgery is involved with gamma knife surgery?
Answer : Despite it's name, the gamma knife is not traditional surgical treatment that involves incisions. Gamma knife treatment is a form of radiosurgery that involves the use of radiation treatment designed to target brain tumors, lesions and vascular disorders. The radiation treatment disrupts the tumor or vascular growth resulting in the shrinking of the malformation. No actual surgical incisions are involved in gamma knife treatment.

Question : What are the main advantages of gamma knife treatment?
Answer : Gamma knife treatment offers a safe, minimally invasive and precise alternative to traditional surgical treatments for brain tumors and vascular disorders. No actual surgical incisions are performed when undergoing gamma knife treatment so infections and other surgical complications are eliminated. Additionally, gamma knife treatment targets tumors and other disorders with radiation through 201 spherical orbs resulting in a extremely precise treatment of brain disorders while avoiding healthy tissue.

Question : What type radiation is used in gamma knife treatment?
Answer: The radiation used in gamma knife treatment is cobalt 60, the same type of radiation used in tradition X-ray films.

Question : How long does treatment by gamma knife take?
Answer : Gamma knife treatment is typically completed in one day, use of general anesthesia is typically not necessary. The treatment process begins early in the morning with the fitting of the headpiece frame. After imaging and the treatment planning, the gamma knife treatment procedure will commence. After a short recover period in the gamma knife treatment suites, patients return to their homes or hotel room. A nurse from the gamma knife treatment center will telephone gamma knife patients to ensure that the recovery is uneventful.

Question : Will I feel any pain or discomfort during the gamma knife treatment?
Answer : The X-ray beam treatment of the gamma knife is the painless and non-invasive treatment. Patients will not be able to hear or feel the cobalt x-ray treatment target the brain abnormality during the course of gamma knife treatment. However, patients may feel some discomfort when the headpiece frame is fitted to the patient by a neurosurgeon. A local topical anesthetic is used at the site of the frame placement to reduce any potential discomfort.

Question : What type of disorders is gamma knife treatment effective on?
Answer : Gamma knife treatments are reserved for the treatments of brain and vascular disorders. Given the design of the helmet that contains the 201 spherical orbs directing the radiation treatment, the gamma knife is not suitable for treatments of any disorders below the head.

Specific disorders that the gamma knife is particularly effective include: Brain Cancers and tumors, vascular disorders and functional disorders. visit our Disorders we Treat page.

Question : Who do I contact to obtain more information or to schedule an initial consultation?
Answer : Please contact the Gamma Knife Treatment Center Referral Corrdinator at +1-410-614-2886 to arrange an initial consult, or send an email to cudata@jhmi.edu.