Just curious, why is the gammaknife procedure considered a neurosurgical procedure? I ask this because I work at the hospital that developed the first of it’s kind, and often come into contact with patients who are about to through with it. I’ve often thought about approaching the personnel but haven’t gotten around to it. Obviously it isn’t just neurosurgeons planning it; the work hand in hand with a team of radiologists and RN’s. But since it is in essence a “closed-skull” treatment, why the need of surgeons?
Sidenote: I might be way off base with this question. I’ve just read quite a bit about the procedure and there always seems to be some connection to the surgical staff. Correct me if I’m wrong!
First, so people know what you mean: http://www.valley-radiotherapy.com/technology/gammaknife.html
The surgical aspect is in the identification of the exact location in the brain to be targeted. Radiologists don’t have this expertise – it’s the domain of the neurosurgeon. Cutting is the least of a good surgeon’s repertoire.
My mother’s pain specialist is/was under the impression that Gamma Knife treatment involved a certain amount of actual cutting. A doctor with many years experience.
Unfortunately after much dispute it turned out that her condition (atypical trigenumal neuralgea) was not responsive to the treatment anyway.
A slight hijack but I had atypical trigeminal neuralgia that was killing me. It was cured (possibly temporarily, but I’ve been symptom free for about 10 years now) by a novocaine (lidocaine, maybe, but the doctor said novocaine) nerve block directly to the trigeminal nerve (big needle). My face went completely numb for a day, but it did the trick. I don’t know what exactly was in the nerve block mix, it could’ve had an anti-inflammatory steroid or somesuch as well.
They tried that, made it worse.
So why isn’t it radiation-oncology that does it?
Just curious, has anybody here actually been treated with the Gamma Knife? I gotta tell you, seeing these patients with the stereotactical frames screwed into their heads is quite intimidating.
Myglaren, could you elaborate on what you said about the procedure involving a certain amount of cutting? Cutting what? Other than hair, I don’t really see what they would need to cut.