Study Shows Benefits of Robotic Gamma Knife

In a study, a new Gamma Knife with a robotic automatic patient positioning system (APS) has demonstrated greater accuracy in radiation-dose planning during brain surgery, faster treatment, and more flexibility in dose delivery. The study was published in the February 2002 issue of Neurosurgery.

The Gamma Knife, often referred to as bloodless brain surgery, uses irradiation to treat arteriovenous malformations, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, brain metastases, glial neoplasms, malignant skull base tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, and epilepsy. The device delivers a single high dose of irradiation at targets of just 2 or 3 mm up to 3 cm in diameter. Because the beam focuses precisely on the offending tissue, effects on surrounding brain tissue are minimized. The procedure is safer than many existing procedures because patients to not need to undergo open-skull procedures and do not require general anesthesia. Patients can usually leave the hospital within 24 hours.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC, PA, USA), reports on the use of the new APS technology in the treatment of 134 patients. The researchers found that the APS system eliminated the need for different sizes of collimator helmets to focus the radiation, saving time and making patients more comfortable. Also they were able to use smaller beams of radiation, with better outcomes for patients.

"We found the accuracy of the robotic system allows us to use greater numbers of smaller and narrower beams of radiation,” said Douglas S. Kondziolka, M.D., professor of neurologic surgery and radiation oncology and principal investigator. "This results in steeper falloffs of the radiation outside the target area, resulting in a more conformal dose plan and a potentially better outcome for the patient.” The Gamma Knife is the product of Elekta AB (Stockholm, Sweden)




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