Christine,
Denise or others may have more information about this type of surgery. I found this link and hope it helps:
http://www.irsa.org/radiosurgery.htmlTypes:
There are three basic forms of
stereotactic radiosurgery represented by three different technological
instruments. Each instrument operates differently, has a different
source of radiation and may be more effective under different
circumstances. The three are:
- Particle beam (proton)
- Cobalt-60 based (photon)
- Linear accelerator based (linac)
The cobalt-60 based machines are located at dedicated neuroscience
centers in the United States and throughout the world. These machines
provide extremely accurate targeting and precise treatment for brain
cancers. They are dedicated to treating only brain tumors and
dysfunctions in a one-day treatment. The most well-known machine is the
Gamma KnifeŽ.
The Gamma KnifeŽ does not move during
treatment, thus providing a high degree of precision within the brain.
It has been available for over 40 years, with constant enhancements,
substantial research and follow-up backing its treatments and outcomes.
The unit today is much the same as when it was developed. The machines
utilize multiple sources of radiation, which causes less damage to
healthy tissue and results in better targeting. Over 350,000 people have
received treatment with this machine at this time. These machines are
ideal for smaller tumors (less than 3.5 cm) and functional disorders of
the brain. The manufacturer's name is Elekta Instruments.