 Gamma Knife
Treatment & Follow-Up
Once the decision has been made to have Gamma Knife treatment, you
will come to the Admitting department of Mercy Health Center and
check in with our staff. You will then be taken to the Gamma Knife
Center and will be asked to sign a consent form that grants us
permission to perform the procedure.
Gamma Knife treatment consists of the following steps:
1. PLACEMENT OF THE HEAD FRAME A
stereotactic frame will be placed on your head and remain there
throughout treatment. The frame is needed as a reference point
during treatment planning, and it is used to hold your head in the
exact position required for precise treatment.
2. OBTAINING PRECISE IMAGES MRI,
CT scans or
angiography (a way to visualize the blood vessels) will be used
to obtain images that clearly define where the tumor,
AVM or treatment site is located. After the required images are
obtained, you can relax while the team reviews them and plans your
treatment.
3. TREATMENT PLANNING Once the
images are transferred to the Gamma Knife's computer planning
system, the team will examine them and accurately define the target.
The detailed treatment plan they create will determine how long
treatment will take. Planning a typical Gamma Knife treatment
usually takes approximately one hour.
4. TREATMENT Once the treatment
plan has been carefully checked by the team for precision and safety
and has been explained to you, treatment will begin. You will enter
the Gamma Knife room and recline on the couch portion of the unit.
The team will position your head in the helmet, which directs the
radiation to the exact treatment target. The team conducts treatment
in an adjacent room, maintaining contact with you through video and
intercom. You may choose to listen to the radio or music of your
choice. When your treatment is over, the head frame is removed and
you can leave the center. Most individuals return to normal
activities within a day or two.
5. POST GAMMA KNIFE TREATMENT Your
physician will monitor your treatment results by taking periodic
MRI, CT scans or angiography. The Gamma Knife Center at Mercy
Neuroscience Institute staff will stay in contact with your
physician in order to monitor your progress. We are available 24
hours a day to provide further consultation on your case.
For more information on what to expect, see the
FAQS.
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