Methodist is the only South Texas Hospital with the new Perfexion™ System
The latest version of the Gamma Knife® is now being used at Methodist Hospital. The Gamma Knife, a highly sophisticated instrument that contains no blade and requires no incision, utilizes precisely focused ionizing radiation in a single treatment session to arrest, destroy, or reduce certain abnormalities in the head, neck and cervical spin. Only at the point where the radiation beams intersect is the treatment dose of radiation delivered, sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. Patients resume normal activities within a few days of treatment.
When Methodist received its first Gamma Knife, it was used primarily for abnormalities of the brain. The latest version, Perfexion, can be used for procedures in the brain, cervical spine and head and neck region. Methodist is the only hospital in South Texas with a Gamma Knife.
With the newest version, the radiation source remains stationary and the patient is moved to accommodate radiation delivery. It automatically adjusts patient position, saving time and reducing the chance of human error. The larger size of the new machine also increases its range, allowing doctors to treat multiple tumors in a single setting.
The Gamma Knife Center at Methodist Hospital offers a non-invasive alternative for patients who have been diagnosed with benign and malignant brain tumors, vascular abnormalities and Trigeminal Neuralgia.
STORY IDEA
After Dr. Ursula Sanderson, 75, retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, she noticed that her eyesight wasn’t quite right. Instead of seeing one image of an object, she was seeing 2 ½ exposures of the object. Imaging showed that she had a meningioma pressing on her optic nerve. A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Like most meningiomas, hers was benign. She underwent Gamma Knife surgery on an outpatient basis, and gradually, over a 1 ½ month period, her vision returned to normal. “I was so impressed by the knowledge and help provided to me by the Gamma Knife team,” she said. “I was struck by the contrast between the technical sophistication of the program and the personal warmth and concern demonstrated by the team. The average person comes to such a program very intimidated by the sophistication of the instrument and having to deal with a serious health problem. The team shows them concern and reassurance.”