Patient guide
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Focused radiation delivered in one session without an incision, guided by MRI and precise head fixation. Dr. Almeida is part of the UPMC Gamma Knife team.
What Gamma Knife radiosurgery is
Gamma Knife radiosurgery focuses many small beams of radiation on a carefully defined target. The beams meet at the target, which keeps the dose to nearby tissue low. Treatment is planned with detailed imaging and does not require a surgical incision.
Conditions it may treat
Your treatment day
Arrive early, usually around 5:30 in the morning, for preparation.
For frame-based treatment, the head frame is placed with local anesthesia and moderate sedation. This is usually finished around 6:30.
For arteriovenous malformations, an angiogram is done with the endovascular team after the frame is placed.
MRI follows, usually around 7:00.
The team creates the treatment plan, reviews it, completes quality checks, approves it, and delivers the treatment.
Most patients go home the same day.
A mask-based option is available for some patients.
Before you go home
The team explains your follow-up plan and when your next imaging will be.
After treatment
- Soreness at the frame sites, headache, and nausea can happen after treatment.
- Mild fatigue is possible and is usually temporary.
- If you had moderate sedation, do not drive or operate machinery that day. Plan for someone to take you home.