Gamma Knife

General
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What exactly is this gamma knife? I’ve heard of it quite often on this site, but never heard any neurologist mention it to me.

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Hi Alison, Good question. I just assumed it’s like a scalpel using radiation instead of a metal blade.
I probably shouldn’t have made that assumption so I’m interested in learning about this.
Best wishes, Greg

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The Gamma Knife is an advanced radiation treatment for adults and children with small to medium brain tumors, abnormal blood vessel formations called arteriovenous malformations, epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, a nerve condition that causes chronic pain, and other neurological conditions.

I’m not sure on the exact number but in and around 200 mild beams of radiation cause no damage as they pass through but all meet at a focal point. In AVMs the radiation over time causes the vessels to occlude, or grow shut, over a period of time.

I had it completed in 2016. John

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Hi I had gamma knife done in October. I was in the machine for 2hrs. Didn’t hurt at all. For me the worst part was getting the frame put on your head. I’m pretty sure it’s 162beams that pinpoint the section of where they do the radation. I go back in 2 weeks for a MRI to see how it’s going. It can take up to 2-3years to work.

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Thanks guys! :grin:

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When you had that done, were you awake or did they give you sedation?

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I’ve been sedated all three times, the first two because I was under 18, the last time because I have little to no pain tolerance.

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Hi Alison. Just logged on to AVM survivors to post a link to a video I made about when I had stereotactic radiosurgery. I have actually had Gamma Knife or stereotactic radiosurgery twice! 2010 and 2019. Sadly this was completely unsuccessful. Despite my AVM still there, I had had a few embolisations in the years after my brain haemorrhage in 2007. I decided to get on with my life. I went off to university, then worked and was just too busy to think any further about my head. I felt absolutely fine in myself. Then I had another brain haemorrhage in 2019. The Doctors recommended giving stereotactic radiosurgery, or gamma knife, a go. The difference this time is they decided to combine this therapy and after type of embolisation. They fitted a platinum mesh about 9 months after the gamma knife. The mesh largely lessened the flow. They told me it can take up to 5 years to get the full results. My Stereotactic Radiosurgery Journey 2

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