Posts tagged Gamma

GK

What? “This is a unique treatment unit which 201 gamma ray radiation emitted and stereotactic lesion precisely without harming surrounding tissue. It was developed by Professor Lars Leksell in 1968 at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden invented.


It is a great medical contribution to mankind, and it is now generally accepted as the best choice for the treatment of many diseases detected in the brain. This treatment requires a highly skilled and competent, including doctors, nurses, medical physics and engineering.

GK technique itself is an important breakthrough. It optimizes the accuracy and performance needed by using imaging techniques such as CT, MRI, angiography, to locate a physician and medical physicist exactly the lesion and calculate the volume and intensity of radiation allowed. Br
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The treatment is applied are discussed under stereo-tactic to the exact location of the lesion. If a session of the application is complete, the frame is gradually degenerate, and each treatment is completed. The actual treatment usually takes 30 minutes to 2 hours. After the treatment procedure, the doctors at the hospital the patient under observation for one night before discharge.

Key Features of Gamma Knife:
- Gamma Knife is not really a knife. There is no anesthesia and no incision except in certain cases that a local anesthetic required to stretch the frame. This is a bloodless procedure and almost painless.
- It uses gamma rays powerful enough to destroy unwanted tissue in the brain like a tumor or arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
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- GK deals specifically with a lesion without damaging surrounding brain tissue, hair or scalp. The accuracy is so great and definitely a small lesion in a range from 1 to 2 millimeters is treatable.
- The radiation can practically access to the specific area of the brain. It is therefore very useful for the treatment of deeper parts or the underside of the brain that are very difficult to reach with conventional open surgery.
- The volume, strength and direction of the beam can be controlled so that it can be tailored to the patient’s condition, and diverted from the area undesirable, as required
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- There is no chance of infection or need for blood transfusions. Do not shave the hair or scalp scar on the results of this treatment.
- There are no long-term care or postoperative loss of productive life. The patient may lead to a normal life one day only to return after surgery.
- It is relatively cheap compared to the long hospital stay, antibiotics, etc. rehabilitation open brain surgery
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- No deaths and disability associated with the procedure GK

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As GK treatment is given. Here are step by step process for treatment of GK:

1. Mounting Frame: The frame stereo tactic that is fully adjustable, is applied to the patient’s head. It’s like a motorcycle helmet, but larger.

2. Imaging of the lesion: CT, MRI or angiography is performed to draw 3D images of the lesion (s)

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3. Computing Treatment Plan: The information from imaging devices to get into a computer program loaded to create a treatment plan. Radiation dose to the specific situation of the patient calculated.

4. Treatment: The patient is placed in the treatment room. Helmet and frame will be applied to the patient’s head, then begins the process of radiation. The calculated dose will be forwarded automatically to the brain. The treatment takes only 30 to 120 minutes.

5. Recreation and observation: Usually the patient is observed overnight after treatment. But in many cases it is not necessary to do so.

Indications for GK:
According to Dr. Dittapong, GK is used for a variety of disorders of the brain. While some of them have very good answers, doctors are perfecting methods of treatment for others. In short, the established indications for treatment GK:

1. Vascular disease: arteriovenous malformation present (AVM) of the brain is the primary goal of therapy GK. Over 80% of the patients led to the extinction of the lesion in two years. It is very difficult to treat by open surgery in the brain AVM, so GK is always the first choice of treatment. In recent years, aneurysm and vascular disease of other vessels also are treated by GK.

2. Benign tumors: more than a third of all treatments were on GK various types of benign brain tumors such as acoustic neuroma, meningioma, pituitary tumor or macroadenoma, pineal tumor, trigeminal neuroma, etc. used 90-95% of patients had very good control of tumor growth. Facial nerves are still kept in nearly all cases, in contrast to conventional open surgery, often with facial paralysis. In addition, 80% of cases of acoustic neuroma treated GK, after consulting GK lost, but it is very often occur after open surgery.

3. Malignant tumors: brain metastases (single or multiple) can be exposed surgically by Gamma Knife and has a good control of tumor growth. Up to 8 lesions can be simultaneously treated by GK. This is almost impossible to do an open surgery. Glial cells (malignant) tumors are increasingly GK because of much better treatment than open surgery. Recent advances in the treatment of ocular melanoma by GK has made.

4. functional objectives: response to treatment for trigeminal neuralgia GK is very good for patients with intractable (severe) pain. With drugs alone, some patients suffer severe pain and disability for long. GK is also highly promising results for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, pain and incurable even some psychosocial euro climate conditions.

Why a patient should choose GK treatment:
GK is a real alternative for the treatment of diseases of the brain, especially for the treatment of tumors, AVM, different types of brain lesions, functional disorders. Compared to conventional surgery, it is much easier and safer for the patient. It summarizes the following as some of the advantages of the GK:

For a deep lesion as a lesion of the brain stem, Gamma Knife surgery is a better alternative and less risky because the radiation can access the location of the lesion for treatment without damaging surrounding tissue. There is a very high risk in the treatment of deep lesions with conventional open surgery.

Gamma Knife surgery does not require anesthesia. This reduces the risks for the elderly and patients with chronic heart or lung disease. Conventional open surgery requires general anesthesia.

A maximum of two days in the hospital stay may be necessary. Conventional surgery may require intensive care, and more than 10-20 day hospital stay. In comparison, there is no risk of blood loss, infection or pain, no cut, no scar or shaving. It is inexpensive and requires no post-operative care.

Currently there are approximately 180 Gamma Knife centers in the World: How far used GK. Most of these centers in developed countries like USA, Japan, Europe and Australia. In South Asia, are available in Japan, Korea, Thailand and Singapore.