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​Gamma Knife® Radiosurgery

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is one of the most precise, powerful, and proven treatments for brain disorders. This painless procedure uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions within the brain. With no surgical incision required, Gamma Knife radiosurgery is especially useful when conventional surgical procedures pose a high risk for patients. 
 

An Effective Approach

Before the procedure, a team of UPMC Gamma Knife experts creates a detailed map of the patient's brain, precisely pinpointing the tumor or lesion. During the procedure, a focused, custom-designed dose of radiation targets only the diseased tissue, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact. Patients generally need only one treatment to get results, which occur gradually over a few months.
 

An Array of Conditions Treated

Our experts in Gamma Knife radiosurgery are able to treat an array of brain disorders, including:

 
​​Condition ​Result After Treatment
​Brain Tumors (Malignant or Benign) ​Treatment damages the genetic material in the tumor's cells, resulting in their inability to reproduce. Following treatment, the cells die and the tumor may gradually shrink.
​Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) ​Treatment causes blood vessels in the AVM to thicken and close.
​Trigeminal Neuralgia ​After treatment, a lesion gradually forms in the nerve and blocks the transmission of pain signals along the nerve.
​Acoustic Neuroma ​Treatment can reduce the size or limit the growth of the tumor with little risk of permanent nerve damage.
​Pituitary Tumors ​Treatment can shrink the tumor and lessen the disruption of pituitary hormone regulation.
 

​Pioneers in Treatment

UPMC installed the first North American Gamma Knife in 1987 and subsequently introduced and pioneered each succeeding generation of technological improvement. 
 
Over its 25-year history at UPMC, Gamma Knife radiosurgery has proved effective for nearly 12,000 patients with benign or malignant brain tumors, vascular malformations, pain, and other functional problems. Today, the Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery at UPMC is the nation’s leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, and is a major teaching center for neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical physicists from around the globe. 
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​Contact Us

To schedule an appointment or for more information about our Gamma Knife program, call 1-877-986-9862. For international calls, please dial 01-877-320-8762.​

 

Meet Our Gamma Knife Experts:

 
 
MEET JOHN LYNCH

When John Lynch was diagnosed with a potentially fatal brain disorder 25 years ago, he turned to groundbreaking Gamma Knife Radiosurgery at UPMC.

Read more >

 

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