UAB is the only facility in the state with a
Gamma Knife treatment center, which makes it possible to do neurosurgery without making an incision. The Gamma Knife uses extremely focused cobalt radiation beams focused on the tumor or region of interest. Because there’s no incision, there’s usually no need for general anesthesia. In most cases, patients are back on their feet within hours, can return home the same day and resume their normal routines in a few days.
The Gamma Knife can be an alternative to conventional neurosurgery and radiation therapy for abnormal masses of blood vessels called arteriovenous malformations (AVM), as well as for benign and malignant tumors. It has proven effective in treating facial pain caused by the trigeminal neuralgia. It’s especially useful for patients who are not good candidates for standard surgical techniques due to illness or advanced age, or in cases where conventional treatment isn’t feasible because of the location or nature of the lesion
The Gamma Knife has also proven to be very effective in combination with traditional surgery. It can allow the surgeon to perform a safer and less invasive initial surgery, or can be a useful additional therapy for tumors that cannot be removed entirely in an initial traditional surgery.