Gamma Knife

The Gamma Knife is one of the newest and safest ways to treat patients with brain tumors, but is in fact not a "knife" at all. The Gamma Knife is a helmet like apparatus that, with the help of medical imaging, can locate and eliminate tumors of the brain. Both malignant and benign tumors can be safely destroyed using Gamma Knife technology. The complexity of the human brain makes precision vital when dealing with these brain tumors. The Gamma Knife can produce high powered Cobalt-60 gamma rays with extreme accuracy so as not to destroy healthy brain tissue. The other amazing benefit of this technology is its ease on the patient. Gamma Knife procedures usually last only a matter of hours and patients are usually released on the day of the procedure or the day after. This process also reduces cost for the patient by minimizing time in the hospital. Complications, such as infection and hemmorhage that are a result of surgery are also effectively eliminated. One of the disadvantages of this technology is that it can only be used on small tumors around 4cm. The Gamma Knife is an exciting new form of therapy for brain tumors and is making recovery easier for patients around the world.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002173.html