Gamma Knife Unit

Department of Neurosurgery
Neurosciences Centre, A.I.I.M.S, New Delhi, India

Gamma knife radiosurgery is a well established form of stereotactic radiotherapy technique

used as a non-invasive treatment for a variety of brain conditions. During this treatment, narrow
beams of radiation are aimed from points surrounding the head to converge onto a single
predetermined location inside the brain. The aim of this treatment is to create a concentrated
radiation dose at the tumor site, at the same time minimizing damage to surrounding healthy
tissues. This surgery has many advantages over traditional brain surgery and has limited side
effects.
The first step in gamma knife radiosurgery is to anesthetize the patients scalp in preparation for
the placement of a stereotactic frame onto her head with screws. A magnetic resonance image
is then taken of the head with the frame in place in order to calibrate the frames position in
relation to the target of the radiation. The patient is then transported to the Gamma
Knife radiosurgery clinic where the radiosurgery team which mainly includes Neurosurgeon,
Radiation Oncologist, Physicist, work to prepare the treatment protocol. The radiation delivery
procedure typically lasts up to one hour, and often only one treatment is necessary. Following
treatment, the frame is removed and the patient is either allowed to go home or is kept overnight
for observation.
Several brain conditions can be treated with Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. Usual treatment includes:

AVM
Meningioma
Acoustic Neuroma
Pitutitary Adenoma
Metastasis
Craniopharyngioma
Glial Tumors
Glomus Jugularae
Functional Disorders

We started this treatment in May 1997 using Gamma Knife Model B which was the latest model
available that time. At present we have the latest model of Gamma Knife which is named as
Perfexion Model is used to perform radiosurgery. It was installed in June 2011. In this unit we
do routine radiosurgery and have the option to perform fractionated Gamma Knife treatment for
3-5 sessions as well. This kind of treatment is called as hypofractionation. Due to this new

fractionation facility Gamma Knife treatment has extended its treatment to skull base tumors
and ENT tumors which are inaccessible and larger enough to be treated with routine
radiosurgery.

Overall the major benefit for patients undergoing Gamma Knife surgery are:

It is non-invasive treatment technique

No incision; no need for head shaving; no scars to heal
No hair loss or nausea
Treatment is relatively painless and in most cases a general anaesthetic is not needed
Patients make a fast recovery and can usually resume their normal activities in a day or
two.

Gamma Knife Team

Head of Department
Prof. B. S. Sharma

Faculty Incharge Gamma Knife

Prof. S. S. Kale

Faculties involved in GK Radiosurgery

Prof. S. S. Kale
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Dr. Deepak Agarwal

Clinical Physics and Radiation Safety Team

Dr. N. Gopishankar
Mr. R. K. Bisht

Technical Team
Mr Hargovind Singh Jeena
Mr. Kripal Singh Bisht

Nurse Team
Mrs. Neelam Aggarwal
Mrs. Parmila
Mrs. Ancy Baby

Patient Booking Staff

Mr Tanwar

Other Support Staff

Mr Prem Singh
Mr Jeevan Acharya

Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgical Procedures at AIIMS New Delhi (1997-2012)

Acoustic
Schwannoma
(654, 23%)
AVM (894, 32%)

Meningioma
(722, 25%)

Others (250, 7.5%)

Glomus Jugulare
(43, 1.5%)
Trigeminal neuralgia
(31, 1%)
Metastasis(93,3.3%)

Pituitary Adenoma
(440, 15.5%)
Other Benign
Tumor(77, 2.7%)

Neurofibroma
(37,1.3%)

Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgical Procedures at AIIMS New Delhi (1997-2012)

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Content Provided by Dr N. Gopishankar