Side Effects Of Gamma Knife Surgery For Acoustic Neuroma

Other short term side effects that are uncommon but still possible include.

Side effects of gamma knife surgery for acoustic neuroma. Doctors use stereotactic radiosurgery or gamma knife surgery to treat smaller acoustic neuromas. Assistant professor department of otolaryngology head and neck surgery medical university of south carolina. Hair loss near the treated area if close to the scalp. Despite the name a gamma knife is not a knife or a scalpel but rather a system for delivering targeted accurate and precise radiation.

Lunsford aimed hundreds of highly focused radiation beams at eddie s acoustic neuroma shrinking it and slowing its growth. Delayed side effects can include. Sometimes referred to as gamma knife surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery srs gamma knife treatment is actually a non invasive radiation treatment. Post surgery facial paralysis is less common than it used to be because of changes in the way surgeons attend to facial nerve concerns.

Skin irritation near the treatment site. It s possible although rare to experience side effects from treatment with gamma knife well after the procedure. Gamma knife side effects for acoustic neuroma treatment the most common side effect from gamma knife or any form of stereotactic radiosurgery is hearing loss says ted mcrackan md mscr director skull base center. That s why the following information is designed to help you better understand more about gamma knife radiosurgery as a treatment option including gamma knife acoustic neuroma side effects.

Delayed side effects of gamma knife treatment. Swelling in the brain. Gamma knife treatment provides 92 to 97 percent tumor control rates for acoustic neuroma patients after five years. Acoustic neuroma patients can experience facial pain weakness or paralysis either before or after treatment.

Common symptoms include unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. During the procedure dr. Mayo clinic specialists offer a range of individualized treatment options including gamma knife radiosurgery. Eddie received treatment the morning after he arrived in pittsburgh.

He was confident that gamma knife radiosurgery would shrink the tumor and preserve edward s hearing. The 7th cranial nerve or facial nerve is often affected in the treatment of an acoustic neuroma.