The Gamma Knife has better than a 90 percent success rate for lesions most commonly treated with radiosurgery. Based on a national research study conducted by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, the Gamma Knife was found to be three times more effective in treating recurrent cancerous brain tumors than the other radiosurgical tools now available. Edward G. Shaw, M.D., chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, was principal investigator for the study. Branch established the Medical Center's Linac Stereotactic Radiosurgery Program. It's an outpatient procedure which allows patients to go home in about half a day.
Patients can usually return to their normal routine within a day of the procedure.
Also, many of the expenses of disability and prolonged convalescence associated with conventional surgery are avoided. Radiosurgery has been performed at the Medical Center for 10 years. It currently operates the largest and busiest radiosurgery program in the state. It is expected to be installed in mid-1999 as a major component of the Medical Center's Comprehensive Brain Tumor Treatment and Research Programs. The programs are coordinated under the leadership of David L. Kelly Jr., M.D., chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, Glenn J. Lesser, M.D. of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University and Shaw.