By Lisa Rosenberg

Discovered in 1950 by Lars Leksell and Börje Larsson

Noninvasive procedure Uses precise radiation to attack cells Similar to MRI and CT scans Plan mapped out ahead of time Frame fixed to skull

Radiation shrinks tumors Shrinks at the same rate of growth Outpatient Procedure Painless Claustrophobia Common Side Effect

◦ Swelling Rare Side Effects

◦ Nausea◦ Seizures◦ Irritation

Extremely Rare◦ Visual or Hearing loss

Cyclotron – Particle Beam (Proton)◦ Movement◦ Over $100 million

Ordinary modified Linear Particle Accelerator◦ Moving Machine◦ Arcs cross to target one point◦ Over 3.5 cm

Cobalt – 60 (Photon)◦ Gamma Knife◦ 201 cobalt sources◦ Under 3.5 cm

Arteriovenous Malformations Brain Tumors

◦ Benign◦ Malignant◦ Metastatic

Doesn’t Remove Tumor◦ Distorts the DNA

Functional Disorders◦ Trigeminal Neuralgia◦ Deep Cluster Headaches◦ OCD

Little Research on Differences Between Machines

Deep Cluster Headaches◦ High relapse rates

OCD◦ Placebo Effect

Covered by Health Insurance, MMO’s, PPO’s and Medicaid◦ Little as $100

Without Insurance◦ $12,000 - $55,000 for everything

Continuing Trials Better Option for Many Individuals

◦ Less Risk◦ Low Cost◦ Less Time

The New York Times: Health Guide <health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/stereotactic-radiosurgery/overview.html>

International RadioSurgery Association<www.irsa.org> Johns Hopkins Neurology and Neurosurgery

<www.hopkinsmedicine.org/nuerogology_neurosurgery> New York-Presbyterian <nyp.org/radonc/gammaknife.html> Clinical Trials <virtualtrials.com/jhrs.cfm> The Dana Foundation <www.dana.org/news/features/deatil.aspx?id=31716> University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery <www2.med.umich.edu> Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy and Oncology <www.medic.usm.my> The Neuroscience Institute

<mmcneuro.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/stereotactic-radiousurgery-for-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-phineas-gage-meets-the-jetsons/>

UW Health: Stereotactic Radiosurgery www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/B_EXTRANET_HEALTH_INFORMTION-FlexMemeber-Show_Public_HFFY_1105110025629.html>

Cost Helper <http://health.costhelper.com/stereotactic-radiosurger.html>