Once you decide to have Gamma Knife treatment, you will come to the Keck School of Medicine of USC Department of Radiation Oncology and check in with our staff. You will be asked to sign a consent form that grants us permission to perform the procedure.

Gamma Knife treatment consists of the following steps:

1. PLACEMENT OF THE HEAD FRAME  A stereotactic frame will be placed on your head and remain there throughout treatment. The frame is needed as a reference point during treatment planning, and it is used to hold your head in the exact position required for precise treatment.

2. OBTAINING PRECISE IMAGES   MRI, CT scans or angiography (a way to visualize the blood vessels) will be used to obtain images that clearly define where the tumor, AVM or treatment site is located. After the required images are obtained, you can relax while the team reviews them and plans your treatment.

3. TREATMENT PLANNING   Once the images are transferred to the Gamma Knife's computer planning system, the team will examine them and accurately define the target. The detailed treatment plan they create will determine how long treatment will take. A typical Gamma Knife treatment planning takes an hour or two.

4. TREATMENT   Once the treatment plan has been carefully checked by the team for precision and safety and has been explained to you, treatment will begin. You will enter the Gamma Knife room and recline on the couch portion of the unit. The team will position your head in the helmet, which directs the radiation to the exact treatment target. The team conducts treatment in an adjacent room, maintaining contact with you through video and intercom. You may choose to listen to the radio or music of your choice. When your treatment is over, the head frame is removed and you can leave the center. Most individuals return to normal activities within a day or two.

5. POST GAMMA KNIFE TREATMENT   Your physician will monitor your treatment results by taking periodic MRI, CT scans or angiography. Keck School of Medicine of USC staff will stay in contact with your physician in order to monitor your progress. We are available 24 hours a day to provide further consultation on your case.

For more information on what to expect, see the FAQS.

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