Introduction

Located at the Lancaster General Health Campus, the Lancaster General Gamma Knife Center™ is a state-of-the-art facility offering one of the most effective radiosurgical treatment options available today - Gamma Knife™ radiosurgery. Developed by Dr. Lars Leksell, a Swedish neurosurgeon and the pioneer of stereotactic radiosurgery, the Gamma Knife™ is actually not a knife at all. It is a technologically-advanced radiosurgical tool that delivers ionizing radiation to treat brain disorders that were once treated only by opening the skull. The Gamma Knife™ now allows these conditions to be managed without an incision, and in a single day.

Potential Candidates For Gamma Knife™ Radiosurgery

• Patients with benign or malignant intracranial tumors, vascular malformation or trigeminal neuralgia.
• Patients with surgically inaccessible brain lesions.
• Patients who are medically unable to undergo conventional surgery.
• Patients with recurrent tumors.
• Patients whose tumors could not be completely removed with conventional surgery.
• Patients of all ages, including children.

The Gamma Knife™ works by precisely focusing 201 beams of gamma radiation onto a targeted area of the brain. Highly sophisticated, three-dimensional computer guidance gives the Gamma Knife™ its amazing exactness - accurate down to one half of a millimeter, about the width of a human hair.

Advantages of Gamma Knife™ Treatment

Many of the risks associated with conventional surgery are eliminated with Gamma Knife™ radiosurgery. Because the Gamma Knife™ does not require an incision, risk associated with infection and bleeding is not a concern. Also, the design of the Gamma Knife™ ensures that only abnormal tissue is treated, while surrounding healthy tissue remains unaffected. These benefits mean minimal recovery time and less inconvenience. Plus, while conventional neurosurgery requires lengthy hospital stays and a potentially long recovery period, Gamma Knife™ patients are generally able to resume normal activities in a short period of time.

Typical Gamma Knife™ Treatment Process

1. A stereotactic frame is attached to the patient's head. The headframe is a guiding device which ensures the Gamma Knife™ beams are focused exactly where the treatment is needed.
2. Imaging studies such as MRI, CT scan and/or angiography are performed. Reference markers from the stereotactic frame are displayed on the imaging studies, allowing the physicians to precisely localize the tumor or vascular malformation.
3. The Gamma Knife™ team utilizes three-dimensional computer imaging to develop the patient's radiosurgical treatment plan.
4. When the treatment plan is completed, the patient is placed on the Gamma Knife™ bed. The stereotactic headframe is attached to the helmet containing the 201 portals through which radiation beams are focused. The frame and the helmet prevent movement, ensuring accurate alignment during treatment.
5. Treatment is performed in a single session.

The Lancaster General Gamma Knife™ Team

At the Lancaster General Gamma Knife Center™, treatment is centered around a multi-disciplinary approach to care. A specially-trained team of experts, including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, radiation physicists and nurses combine skills to develop a treatment program that responds to the needs of each individual patient. Potential patients and referring physicians are encouraged to call the Lancaster Gamma Knife Center™ at 1-800-860-9949 or (717) 544-3065 for more information about this innovative treatment.