Re: Gamma Knife

Posted By CCF Forum Administrator on May 18, 1998 at 09:31:18:

In Reply to: Gamma Knife posted by Lenore on May 17, 1998 at 01:00:50:






Dear Doctor, I see where Gamma Knife is listed here.  Why do some docs believe in this and some docs do not.  I heard that this is so new that it is the long term effects of the radiation that they do not know how it will effect the patient?  Is this true?  Anything else?  Thank You for helping me out here.  Lenore




Dear Lenore,
I cannot think of any one treatment that all physicians agree is the best or
the most advantageous to all patients.  This is why second opinions can be
so valuable to patients - depending on their training, level of expertise and
experience, doctors prefer certain treatments more than others.  As far as
the Gamma Knife being a new treatment, this is not correct.  The Gamma Knife
has been used for over 40 years in Europe and 10 years here in the United
States.  Over 60,000 people world-wide have undergone Gamma Knife treatment,
so any possible effects have been well studied.