Gamma Knife Treatment Stops Tumor Growth Without Risks of Traditional Surgery
An acoustic neuroma (AN) is a rare benign tumor of the balance or hearing nerves. It is usually slow growing, expanding at its site of origin. The brain is not invaded by the tumor, but the tumor pushes the brain as it enlarges. Vital functions to sustain life can be threatened when large tumors cause severe pressure on the brainstem and cerebellum.
Early symptoms are easily overlooked or attributed to aging, making diagnosis a challenge. The first symptom in 90 percent of cases is a reduction in hearing in one ear, often accompanied by ringing in the ear. Larger tumors can press on the trigeminal nerve, causing facial numbness and tingling, either constantly or intermittently. Intracranial pressure related to the tumor may cause headaches, lack of balance, and mental confusion.
Though surgery for removal of the tumor has been the traditional approach for treating AN, Gamma Knife surgery has become a successful option for many patients. The advantages of Gamma Knife surgery over traditional surgery include no risk of intracranial bleeding or infection, no post-surgical complications, shorter or no inpatient time, and almost no recovery period. The Gamma Knife is a stereotactic radiosurgical instrument that delivers a single high dose of precisely focused radiation through the intact skull. With pinpoint accuracy, 192 beams of cobalt-60 radiation arrest or reduce tissue growth by distorting the DNA mapping of the cells. The precision spares the healthy tissue. The Gamma Knife Center at Methodist Hospital* has the most advanced version of the instrument in the region.
Approximately 3,000 cases of AN are diagnosed in the U.S. each year with a prevalence of about two persons out of 100,000 worldwide. Most patients diagnosed are between 30 and 60 years old.
STORY IDEA
John Ball was diagnosed with AN after he noticed a gradual loss of hearing in his right ear as well as ringing in his ear. He received treatment at the Gamma Knife Center at Methodist Hospital in 2002. Since then he has received regular MRIs that continue to show that the tumor is not growing.
“When I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, I knew that I had to take action, and I researched various treatments,” he said. “Since my tumor was medium-sized, gamma knife treatment was an option. By choosing it, I was able to avoid the side affects associated with surgery as well as avoiding a long hospital stay and recovery. Dr. Wissinger and his team at the Gamma Knife Center did an excellent job.”
Ball’s Gamma Knife treatment took six hours on a Friday and he was able to return to work on Monday. He was told that traditional surgery would require two days in intensive care and 10 days for total recovery. Active in the local chapter of the Acoustic Neuroma Association, Ball now shares his positive Gamma Knife experience with newly diagnosed patients so they, too, can make informed treatment decisions.
With advance notice, Ball is available for interviews. Also with advance notice, one of the surgeons on his treatment team also is available for interviews. YouTube video showing acoustic neuromas in various sizes and locations in the brain are available on the Acoustic Neuroma Association website, www.anausa.org
*A Department of Methodist Hospital