Does gamma knife radiosurgery have side-effects?
Like all medical procedures, gamma knife radiosurgery is associated with a risk of side-effects. Among the few patients who experience side-effects, the type, extent and severity differ according to the site and dose of irradiation. Most patients feel well enough after treatment to return home within a day or two. The rare side effects seen include temporary dizziness or headache, numbness, etc. Most patients report no side effects at all. Steroids or other medications can be prescribed to control temporary symptoms due to swelling of structures adjacent to the treated site(s). It is important to note that neither the benefits nor the possible complications of radiosurgery are necessarily immediate; it may take several months before results are known. Your neurosurgeon will tell you how often you need to be seen and when to have follow-up imaging studies.
Related Questions
- Do neurosurgeons performing gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (gamma knife) qualify as authorized users (AUs) with regard to the 64E-5.637(6), FAC, requirement for an AU to be physically present throughout the entire patient treatment involving the unit?
- How is CyberKnife® different from other robotic radiosurgery systems, like Gamma Knife or TomoTherapy?
- What are the results of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?
