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Szymon Rosenblatt, MD
The AMITA Health Neurosciences Institute is one of only three programs in Illinois that offer Gamma Knife technology.
Gamma Knife technology is a stereotactic radiosurgical device that is specifically designed to treat unresectable brain tumors, without the need for open brain surgery.1,2 The device delivers cobalt radiation directly to tumors, and is guided by imaging software that selects the radiation dose to conform to the shape and size of the tumor. Unlike whole-brain radiation therapy, Gamma Knife technology selectively treats the tumor and spares the surrounding normal brain tissue from radiation injury, avoiding the potential side effects of whole brain radiation therapy. A Gamma Knife radiosurgical procedure is often a one-time treatment done on an outpatient basis, and the surgeon is able to treat up to 20 lesions in a single procedure.
AMITA Health surgeons first capture images taken through an angiogram and magnetic resonance image (MRI) to outline the arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or tumor.
Before Gamma Knife radiosurgery, a 3D model of the AVM is developed to precisely locate the tumor.
By outlining “shots” (blue), or spheres of equal radiation dose, our experts can treat the brain tumor while sparing healthy brain tissue.
Our neurosurgeons are highly experienced with Gamma Knife, having performed an average of 200 procedures per year for the last 10 years. Gamma Knife radiosurgery can often yield positive results after only a year’s time.
Our neurosurgeons are highly experienced with Gamma Knife, having performed an average of 200 procedures per year for the last 10 years. Gamma Knife radiosurgery can often yield positive results after only a year’s time.
Gamma Knife technology is predominantly applied to metastatic brain cancers with the primary cancer located outside of the brain (most often lung or breast; 60-70 percent of cases). It is also used in the treatment of intractable facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia, as well as benign tumors such as vestibular schwannoma, also known as acoustic tumors.
Gamma Knife procedures involve a multidisciplinary team of physicians, including a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist and physicist, who work together to carefully plan and carry out each procedure. The AMITA Health Neurosciences Institute neurosurgeons are highly experienced with the Gamma Knife, having performed an average of 200 procedures per year for the last 10 years. Training to use the Gamma Knife is rigorous: Surgeons must complete a specialized seven-day course of instruction and perform between 10 and 20 proctored cases. The AMITA Health Neurosciences Institute also shares its expertise by inviting outside physicians to become licensed and trained in the use of the Gamma Knife.
“Some patients have undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for recurrent metastatic disease; the goal of the Gamma Knife procedure is to treat and control cerebral metastases to allow patients to maintain quality of life and meaningful neurologic function.”
– Szymon Rosenblatt, MD
Patients who are referred to the AMITA Health Neurosciences Institute for a Gamma Knife procedure first undergo both MRI and CT scanning to facilitate surgical planning. Prior to the procedure, a stereotactic titanium head ring is placed while the patient is under local anesthesia and mild sedation. At the end of the procedure, the ring is removed, and the patient is discharged home with appropriate home-care and follow-up instructions. Patients receive continuous steroids and anticonvulsants, and return for a follow-up MRI three months after the procedure. Patients are monitored for at least one year after surgery, with close communication between the AMITA Health neurosurgical team, the referring oncologist and the primary care physician.
Szymon Rosenblatt, MD
View Full Profile →Karlsson B, Hanssens P, Wolff R, Söderman M, Lindquist C, Beute G. Thirty years' experience with Gamma Knife surgery for metastases to the brain. J Neurosurg. 2009;111(3):449-457.
Hatiboglu MA, Tuzgen S, Akdur K, Chang EL. Treatment of high numbers of brain metastases with Gamma Knife radiosurgery: a review. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2016;158(4):625-634.
