Results

The treatment effect of Gamma Knife radiosurgery occurs gradually, depending on the condition being treated:

• Benign tumors. Gamma Knife radiosurgery results in the failure of tumor cells to reproduce. The tumor may shrink over a period of 18 months to two years, but the main goal of Gamma Knife radiosurgery for benign tumors is to prevent any future tumor growth.
• Malignant tumors. Cancerous (malignant) tumors may shrink more rapidly, often within a few months.
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The radiation therapy causes the abnormal blood vessels of brain AVMs to thicken and close off. This process may take two years or more.

• Trigeminal neuralgia. Gamma Knife radiosurgery creates a lesion that blocks transmission of pain signals along the trigeminal nerve. Pain relief may take several months.

  You'll receive instruction on appropriate follow-up exams to monitor your progress.