Gamma Knife Roy

Advanced, Non-Invasive Treatment at South Sound Gamma Knife

South Sound Gamma Knife, located at St. Joseph Medical Center, proudly offers Gamma Knife radiosurgery to patients in Roy, WA, and beyond. As the only center in the South Puget Sound area providing Gamma Knife treatment, our facility is a beacon of hope for patients with complex brain conditions. We offer cutting-edge technology, compassionate care, and unparalleled expertise. Our facility is the only Gamma Knife center between Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR, providing care to patients nationwide. At South Sound Gamma Knife, we are committed to giving patients the best possible outcomes with non-invasive treatment that is effective, safe, and precise.

What is Gamma Knife Surgery?

Gamma Knife surgery, despite its name, is not a conventional surgery. It is a type of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a highly precise form of radiation therapy used to treat various brain conditions. Gamma Knife procedures do not involve any incisions, making them non-invasive and reducing the risks typically associated with traditional brain surgery. Instead of a scalpel, Gamma Knife uses concentrated beams of gamma radiation to target and treat abnormalities within the brain, such as tumors or vascular malformations.

Gamma Knife’s extreme precision allows for the treatment of conditions that may have been considered inoperable in the past, especially in sensitive areas of the brain where traditional surgery would be too risky. This treatment is overseen by a multidisciplinary team, including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, radiation physicists, and specialized nurses, ensuring the highest level of care for each patient.

Gamma Knife Treatment Roy – Advanced Technology for Superior Results

At South Sound Gamma Knife, we utilize the Leksell Gamma Knife Icon™, the latest and most advanced Gamma Knife technology available today. The Icon features up to 192 converging beams of high-dose cobalt-60-generated photons, which are computer-mapped to precisely target abnormal tissue in the brain. This cutting-edge system provides an exceptional level of accuracy, allowing for three-dimensional treatment planning that minimizes damage to surrounding healthy brain tissue.

Patients undergoing Gamma Knife treatment are fitted with a custom-designed headframe or mask that keeps their head perfectly still during the procedure, ensuring optimal precision. The ability to target the treatment area so accurately is one of the key reasons why Gamma Knife surgery is associated with fewer side effects compared to traditional brain surgery or even other forms of radiation therapy.

Treating a Wide Range of Brain Conditions

Gamma Knife surgery is versatile and can be used to treat a variety of brain conditions, including both benign and malignant tumors, as well as certain functional disorders. Some of the common conditions treated at South Sound Gamma Knife include:

• Acoustic Neuroma: A benign tumor that affects the hearing and balance nerves in the brain. Gamma Knife can precisely target and stop the growth of the tumor while preserving surrounding tissues.

• Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs): These are abnormal tangles of blood vessels in the brain. Gamma Knife can help to shrink or close off the abnormal blood vessels, reducing the risk of bleeding.

• Brain Tumors: Both primary brain tumors and metastatic tumors (those that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body) can be treated with Gamma Knife. The focused radiation can halt the growth or reduce the size of the tumor without invasive surgery.

• Trigeminal Neuralgia: A painful condition affecting the trigeminal nerve in the face. Gamma Knife radiosurgery can disrupt the nerve’s pain signals, providing relief for patients who do not respond to other treatments.

• Pituitary Adenomas: These hormone-secreting tumors in the pituitary gland can cause various symptoms. Gamma Knife treatment can control hormone production by targeting the tumor with precision.

• Essential Tremor: This neurological disorder causes involuntary shaking, typically in the hands. Gamma Knife surgery has been used to treat the thalamus, a part of the brain involved in motor control, to alleviate symptoms.

At South Sound Gamma Knife, we believe in providing customized care tailored to each patient’s specific condition. Our multidisciplinary team works closely with each patient to develop a personalized treatment plan that offers the best possible outcome.

Gamma Knife Procedure Roy