GAMMA KNIFE OPERATION
Surgical Treatments for Facial Neuralgias

Disclaimer.

The Gamma Knife procedure is used to treat trigeminal neuralgia. 

The following information was provided by Northwest Hospital Gamma Knife Center, Robert F. Young M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr.Young has over 30 years experience in treating Trigeminal Neuralgia. He is also on the Medical Advisory Board of the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association.

"The Gamma Knife was developed in 1968 by Dr. Lars Leksell in Sweden. As of June, 1994, over 21,000 patients had been treated with the Gamma Knife worldwide for a wide variety of brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, and many types of functional disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, chronic pain and trigeminal neuralgia.

"In Gamma Knife radiosurgery, a lesion is created on the trigeminal nerve root by delivering a single highly concentrated dose of ionizing radiation to a small, precise target. This is accomplished by focusing 201 beams of cobalt radiation on the target, and combined with a steep dose fall-off at the periphery, provides effective treatment while minimizing exposure to the healthy surrounding tissue.

"Gamma Knife radiosurgery is non-invasive, thereby avoiding many complications likely with open surgery, and requires only a one night hospitalization. Treatment results in long-term pain relief, with little risk of many side effects common with other treatments. Loss of feeling in the face is very rare with Gamma Knife treatment. "

Links

Gamma Knife Surgery: A Slide show 
A slide show about gamma knife surgery from the San Diego Gamma Knife Center, this show is one of the best up-to-date discussions of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. 

One Patient's Experience with Gamma Knife Surgery - From the TNA  San Diego Support Group newsletter, comes an up-close-and-personal description of GK surgery.

  OncoLink: Gamma Knife.
Very technical explanation

  San Diego Gamma Knife Center
Excellent information on Gamma Knife procedure including an easy to understand FAQ and patient testimonials.

  Mayo Clinic Gamma Knife Treatment
Information about Mayo's gamma knife treatment center

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia:  Results and Expectations
Excellent article on treating TN with gamma knife written by physicians at the Departments of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology and The Center for Image Guided Neurosurgery, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Clinical Outcomes After Stereotactic Radiosurgery For Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia
2001 study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery of 220 TN patients who underwent Gamma Knife surgery to treat their TN pain.

Positive experiences

"It took about 2 weeks to take effect. [Writer] also had to phase off of Dilantin for a week or so. He has had no reoccurrence of pain." Source: Anonymous

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Acknowledgement. Introduction provided by Dr. Robert F. Young M.D., F.A.C.S.