How the gamma knife works

The London Gamma Knife Centre at Barts uses the Leksell Gamma Knife which is not actually a knife at all. It's a state-of-the-art piece of equipment that allows surgeons to treat specific areas within the skull without making a single incision. Development of the so-called Knife began in 1945 and its refinement continues. Today there are around 150 Gamma Knife units worldwide.

Unlike other types of radiation therapy, the Gamma Knife uses a single dose of radiation to target only the affected site. As there is no open surgery, the complications normally associated with an operation are eliminated, as is the need for a long recovery time. This means that normally you can nearly always expect to be treated and discharged within 24 hours.

The Gamma Knife equipment is safe, accurate and reliable. Because of this accuracy, it is now possible to treat tumours previously thought to be inoperable such as those near the brain stem and optic nerves. In most cases the procedure arrests the growth of tumours which may subsequently reduce in size over a period of time.