The gamma knife may be key to stopping brain tumors

An arterio-venous malformation, or AVM, is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain. Some doctors describe an AVM as a short circuit. The blood going through this tangle does not get to the brain to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. An estimated 3 million people in the United States are born with a vascular malformation, 10 percent of which are AVMs.

Most patients will be unaware of the malformation, though some patients have seizures or persistent headaches. The blood vessels are weakened by the condition and can rupture. Bleeding in the brain is a very serious condition and may cause a stroke or even death. Each year, about 1 percent of people with an AVM will die.

There are not many treatments for AVMs. Doctors can prescribe medication to help some of the symptoms, like headache, back pain and seizures. Surgery is an option if the malformation is in a location suitable for surgery. Sometimes, the problem spot will be deep within the brain or next to an important area of the brain.

Surgeons may recommend focused irradiation therapy to treat hard-to-reach areas. The high dose of radiation damages the walls of the blood vessels making up the lesion. Over several months, the irradiated vessels gradually degenerate and eventually close, and hopefully the AVM will no longer be a problem.

Although the treatment has been used on adults for more than 20 years, it is a new treatment for children. The gamma knife has been used on more than 200,000 patients. The surgery is much safer than typical surgery and requires reduced hospital, quicker recovery and rehabilitation time.

No incision is required. It uses precisely targeted beams of radiation that converge on a single point to painlessly “cut” through brain tumors, blood vessel malformations, and other brain abnormalities. Patients have less discomfort and shorter recovery periods. The risk for infection, hemorrhage and reactions to anesthesia is minimal. Gamma radiation is focused on the tumor in 201 intense beams.

Depending on the size of the area being operated on, the surgery generally takes less than one hour. Because there are no moving parts, the rays destroy the problem area without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. The procedure is covered by most insurance plans.

The gamma knife can be used on a variety of conditions:

Benign brain tumors
Malignant brain tumors
Metastatic brain tumors
Acoustic neuromas
Vascular malformations
Trigeminal neuralgia
Functional neurological disorders

Source : www.news8austin.com