Non-invasive nature of the procedure and the avoidance of general anesthesia results in decreased risk of complications, infection, hemorrhage and death. Ideal treatment option for patients at increased risk for surgical complications due to age, location of the lesion or comorbid conditions. Suitable for pediatric patients. Advanced computerized treatment planning, which facilitates the design of complex treatment plans to precisely treat the entire volume of the target. Patients are usually discharged from the hospital within 24 hours, with costs estimated to be 30-60 percent lower than traditional brain surgery.
Patients are able to resume normal activities the day after treatment.
Increases the variety of treatment options available to patients, and may be used to replace or complement existing modalities. In addition, the Linear Accelerator was not designed to administer radiation to small fields , and multi-isocenter treatment is difficult. The primary determining factor in choosing Gamma Knife therapy is the size of the desired target. Lesions larger than 3.5 centimeters in diameter are difficult to treat with the Gamma Knife alone, and may result in serious radiation necrosis complications approximately six to 18 months post treatment. Most often larger lesions can be treated by a combination of Gamma Knife plus open surgery, embolization, or other therapies.