Northside Hospital Introduces Gamma Knife Perfexion Technology

Release, Northside Hospital:

The Northside Hospital Cancer Institute continues to add to its already robust radiation oncology program. Beginning in November, the newly renovated and expanded Northside Hospital-Forsyth Cancer Center will begin to offer the latest treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors and functional and vascular disorders.

“The addition of Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ unit to the Neuro Oncology program at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute will be a significant benefit to hundreds of patients requiring treatment of both benign and malignant brain lesions in the North Georgia and metro Atlanta area,” said Dr. Peter Possert, medical director of Northside’s Gamma KnifeProgram.

Gamma Knife surgery is a non-invasive alternative to traditional brain surgery. Despite the name, there’s no blade or knife. It delivers precisely focused high-dose beams of radiation to selected areas deep within the brain, without a scalpel and without the usual risks of surgery or an incision. It’s designed for treatment of malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular abnormalities and functional disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia.

“The Gamma Knife Perfexion is able to treat multiple lesions in a single session,” Dr. Possert said. “And it successfully treats previously unreachable lesions.”

This type of radiosurgery is typically performed in a single outpatient treatment session without general anesthesia, he added.

“For patients, this means they will undergo a non-invasive form of brain surgery without surgical risks, a long hospital stay or subsequent rehabilitation,” said Dr. Possert.

In the last three decades, Gamma Knife surgery has changed the landscape within the field of neurosurgery. Its development has enhanced neurosurgical treatments offered to patients with brain tumors and vascular malformations by providing a safe, accurate and reliable treatment option. More than 70,000 patients globally are treated safely and successfully with Gamma Knife each year. Most patients return home the same day after the treatment is completed. Many clinicians prefer this technology due to the patient comfort, accuracy and treatment outcomes.

The Northside Hospital-Forsyth Gamma Knife team consists of highly skilled and experienced radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, medical physicists and nursing staff dedicated to providing patients with the most technological advance means of treating brain tumors and functional and vascular disorders. Treatments are covered by most insurance companies and Medicare.

For more information, visit Northside.com/CancerInstitute or call 770-292-7037.