Painless Neurosurgery Effectively Treats Acoustic Neuroma and Other Brain Disorders
By: Fabiola Grosshan
Submitted: 2010-10-22 07:35:26 | Word Count: 367
A painless, non-invasive treatment option for many brain disorders is beginning to be used more often by neurosurgeons. Gamma knife radiosurgery is used to treat a variety of abnormalities within the brain. This choice of treatment provides a safer option than regular neurosurgery because no incisions are required.
Gamma knife treatment is done with many radiation beams using an advanced imaging device that can be aimed precisely at the abnormality. One radiation beam of this treatment is too weak to cause harm to the brain tissue that it passes through, but when the beams all meet in the precise area of abnormality, effective treatment is provided.
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Gamma knife radiosurgery is often used to treat acoustic neuroma, a slow-growing tumor that grows on the main nerve that leads from the brain to the inner ear. This condition can cause ringing in the ears and hearing loss as well as loss of balance.
The tumor normally grows very slowly, but in some cases it can grow rapidly and cause problems with vital functions. Acoustic neuroma gamma knife treatment can stop the growth of the tumor. Good candidates for this treatment are individuals with small tumors or individuals who do not make good candidates for traditional surgery as well as patients who have tumors in locations that cannot be removed without causing damage to surrounding brain tissue.
Another common use of this radiosurgery is for the treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia. This condition affects the nerve that carries sensations from the brain to the face. When this disorder affects the trigeminal nerve, a slight brushing against the face can cause excruciating pain. This condition can be progressive
with attacks occurring more frequently and pain becoming worse over time. Gamma knife trigeminal neuralgia treatment damages the trigeminal nerve, thus eliminating or reducing the pain.
Although this treatment is normally very effective and safe, it can take weeks or months for the effects to occur. It is also being used to treat brain tumors and arteriovenous malformations.
