Gamma Knife DuPont

At South Sound Gamma Knife, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care for patients who require advanced, non-invasive treatments for brain disorders. As the only center for Gamma Knife® treatment in the South Puget Sound region, located at St. Joseph Medical Center, we serve not just DuPont, WA, but also patients from across the country seeking state-of-the-art care. Our center specializes in Gamma Knife radiosurgery, a precise and highly effective treatment option for those with brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), trigeminal neuralgia, and other conditions once considered inoperable.

The Leksell Gamma Knife Icon™: Cutting-Edge Technology in Brain Treatment

At South Sound Gamma Knife, we use the Leksell Gamma Knife Icon™, the latest and most advanced version of Gamma Knife technology. This system represents the pinnacle of radiosurgery for brain disorders, providing an unparalleled combination of precision, safety, and effectiveness. The Icon uses up to 192 converging beams of cobalt-60-generated photons to precisely target a tumor or other affected areas within the brain.

Patients undergoing Gamma Knife treatment at our facility are equipped with either a custom-fit headframe or a mask, depending on their condition and the nature of the treatment. This ensures that the target area in the brain is perfectly aligned for treatment, minimizing any effects on surrounding healthy tissue. The precision of the Icon allows us to treat tumors and lesions located in difficult-to-access or highly sensitive areas of the brain, where traditional surgical options may pose significant risks.

Non-Invasive, Precise, and Safe: What Makes Gamma Knife Unique

While Gamma Knife is called “surgery,” it is fundamentally different from traditional brain surgery. Unlike conventional surgery, Gamma Knife procedures are entirely non-invasive. There are no incisions, no scalpels, and no need for general anesthesia in most cases. Instead, highly focused beams of gamma radiation are directed at the affected area of the brain, destroying abnormal cells or halting their growth.

One of the key benefits of Gamma Knife radiosurgery is its extreme accuracy, which allows the team to target the specific area of disease while sparing surrounding healthy brain tissue. This precision minimizes potential side effects and ensures a low risk of complications, making the treatment ideal for patients who are not candidates for open surgery due to health concerns or the location of the tumor.

Gamma Knife’s ability to treat delicate regions of the brain—including areas near critical functions like speech, motor skills, and vision—provides hope for patients who may have been told their conditions were previously inoperable. Additionally, the minimally invasive nature of the procedure means that recovery time is significantly shorter compared to open surgery, allowing most patients to return to their normal activities quickly.

Gamma Knife Treatment DuPont

At South Sound Gamma Knife, we treat a wide array of brain conditions using Gamma Knife technology. Whether you are dealing with a benign tumor or a more complex neurological disorder, Gamma Knife may be an effective treatment option for you. Some of the conditions we treat include:

• Acoustic Neuroma: A noncancerous tumor on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain, causing hearing loss or balance issues.
• Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs): Abnormal tangles of blood vessels in the brain that can rupture and cause bleeding.
• Brain Tumors: Both benign and malignant brain tumors, including those that are hard to access through traditional surgery.
• Essential Tremor: A neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking, particularly in the hands.
• Metastatic Tumors: Cancers that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body.
• Pituitary Adenomas: Tumors in the pituitary gland, which can affect hormone production.
• Trigeminal Neuralgia: A condition that causes severe, chronic facial pain, often described as one of the most painful conditions a person can experience.

Each of these conditions poses unique challenges, but Gamma Knife’s precision makes it an ideal treatment option for many patients. Our multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, radiation physicists, and specialized nurses works together to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient, ensuring the best possible outcomes.

What to Expect During Your Gamma Knife Procedure

Gamma Knife treatment is designed to be as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Patients undergoing treatment at South Sound Gamma Knife can expect a straightforward process that typically does not require an overnight stay in the hospital.

Initial Consultation

Before your procedure, you will have a consultation with one of our specialists. During this appointment, our team will review your medical history, discuss your condition, and explain how Gamma Knife treatment works. We will also answer any questions you may have and determine whether Gamma Knife is the best option for your specific case.

Treatment Planning

On the day of the procedure, our team will use advanced imaging technology—such as CT scans, MRIs, or angiograms—to create a detailed three-dimensional map of your brain. This information is used to customize your treatment plan, ensuring that the beams of radiation are perfectly aligned to target the affected area with pinpoint accuracy.

The Procedure

Once your treatment plan is in place, you will be fitted with either a headframe or mask. This step is essential to keep your head completely still during the procedure and to ensure the gamma rays are accurately directed at the treatment area. You will be positioned on the treatment couch, and the Gamma Knife machine will begin delivering focused radiation to the targeted area. The treatment itself is painless, and you will not feel any discomfort from the radiation.

Post-Procedure and Recovery

After your treatment, you will be monitored briefly to ensure that you are feeling well before being discharged. Because Gamma Knife surgery is non-invasive, most patients can return home the same day and resume normal activities within a day or two.

The effects of Gamma Knife treatment take place gradually. Over time, the treated cells will stop growing, and in many cases, the tumor or lesion will shrink. Depending on the condition being treated, follow-up appointments may be scheduled to monitor your progress.

Gamma Knife Procedure DuPont – Benefits and long-lasting results