CRANIAL STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY WITH GAMMA KNIFE – GOLD STANDARD AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

Radiosurgery is a form of radiotherapy in which high dose of ionizing radiation, precisely guided with stereotactic method, is applied in a small tissue volume aiming surgery-like effect. This method is used for treatment of some primary tumors and their metastases as well as for some non-oncological processes. Radiosurgery can be performed on Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, Helical tomotherapy and other contemporary linear accelerators and accelerators of protons and heavy ions. This article presents the Gamma Knife which is the first ever radiosurgery device. It was developed specifically for intracranial applications and is used for the treatment of malignant tumors, metastases, benign tumors, vascular and functional brain disorders and is widely accepted as “gold standard” in cranial radiosurgery. Also presented are the new technological features of and clinical possibilities with the newest Gamma Knife model – ICON, which is already available and in clinical operation in Bulgaria.