Health Sciences Center is a big place. I spent two years working in the Buhler building and now am a Med I student and I still haven’t completely navigated the whole hospital. Throughout this time, I have always been intrigued about what lies behind the doors marked “gamma knife”. What exactly happens down that long hallway? It sounds so futuristic and space age... Now, partly through my block 1 studies and partly because I was planning to write this editorial for the surgery club website, I have finally learned what the gamma knife is all about. In short, it’s kind of a big deal.
The very first gamma knife subspecialty program in Neurosurgery was actually established right here in Winnipeg in 2003. The department is currently run by Dr. Michael West, a renowned neurosurgeon with an interest in cerebrovascular surgery, brain tumor surgery, skull base surgery, and radiosurgery. The program employs four neurosurgeons, 2 radiation oncologists, 3 radiation physicists, 2 nurses and a coordinator.
Gamma knife radiosurgery is a complex process that allows completion of minimally invasive neurosurgery with very good results. Don’t be fooled by the “knife” portion of it’s name, there are no real incisions involved. Single high dose ionizing radiation emanates from 201 cobalt-60 sources. The rays are not damaging as they pass through the brain on their own, but when they converge on a particular spot the total dose of radiation is high enough to produce therapeutic benefit. The precision of the gamma knife technique allows surgeons to direct all of the radiation to one single spot without damaging the surrounding tissue. Usually one gamma knife procedure is enough to achieve the desired treatment effect and patients experience very few of the side effects associated with traditional radiation therapy. In fact, most patients return home the same day and are able to carry on with their regular activities one to two days after the procedure.
The gamma knife can be used to treat a wide range of conditions including benign tumors, malignant tumors (both metastases and brain/craniofacial tumors), AVM, trigeminal neuralgia and select ophthalmic indications. More than 25 000 patients are treated with gamma knife radiosurgery each year in multiple centers all over the world.
Gamma knife has proven to be one of the most effective and safe forms of radiotherapy available. Winnipeg should be proud of it’s involvement in the development of the this innovative treatment. If you have a chance, spend some time down that long hallway, it’s sure to be an incredible experience.