What to Expect from a Gamma Knife Treatment for Brain Tumors: A Real-Life Story - ACIBADEM
What to Expect from a Gamma Knife Treatment for Brain Tumors: A Real-Life Story

What to Expect from a Gamma Knife Treatment for Brain Tumors: A Real-Life Story

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a groundbreaking healthcare technology for brain disorders. It uses high-energy rays to treat brain tumors and other brain diseases. It has changed treatment protocols for many brain tumor types. Meningioma, which is a benign brain tumor, is one of them. Our patient Ahmad, an Iraqi English teacher aged 36, had this tumor in his brain. Ahmad explains his journey to Turkiye and Acıbadem Hospital:

“Last summer, I had chronic daily headaches. My student’s father is a neurosurgeon. I visited him. He ordered MRI scan to diagnose the issue. The next thing I knew, I was being told I had a meningioma, a benign brain tumor. He said he could remove the tumor with surgery. But the tumor was in a risky location. He mentioned that he attended a medical congress a while ago and met Prof. Koray Özduman, a neurosurgeon in Istanbul who specializes in radiosurgery treatment for brain tumors. My Iraqi surgeon recommended me to go to Istanbul and receive Gamma Knife treatment. It would be a safer treatment for my tumor. I went to Istanbul and met with Dr. Özduman. He explained that Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an innovative treatment that could eradicate my tumor. Despite the name, it’s not a knife, and it doesn’t involve cutting or incisions. Rather, it’s a form of targeted, minimally invasive radiation treatment.”

Ahmad applied to our clinic with complaints of chronic headache, pain, and numbness in one half of his face. We examined the anamnesis and MRI screening made in his hometown. Then we did the brain imaging again in 3 Tesla MRI at Acıbadem Hospital. We detected a meningioma located close to the optic nerves (originating from the lateral wall of the left cavernous sinus). Professor Koray Özduman decided to follow the Gamma Knife treatment and gave information to the patient. The plans for the operation were made. He performed single session radiosurgery with Gamma Knife.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an outpatient procedure, but the entire process takes not more than a day. Our patients can go home after the treatment.

More than a year has passed since this treatment. During this time, we stayed in contact with the physician who first diagnosed the patient in Iraq. One year after the treatment, Ahmad visited Istanbul and Prof. Özduman again for both vacation and control of the tumor. He has been re-examined. It was observed that the meningioma in question has been minimized considerably. Ahmad currently has no complaints.

Professor Koray Özduman, who is a neurosurgeon and co-director of Acıbadem Gama Knife Unit, states that Gamma Knife can successfully treat meningiomas. It is particularly useful for meningiomas that involve vital structures in the brain. The majority of meningiomas are 3 to 4 centimeters or smaller and can be treated with Gamma Knife. “Ahmad’s brain tumor was undoubtedly appropriate for Gamma Knife radiosurgery.”

Who is a suitable candidate for Gamma Knife treatment?

You may undergo radiosurgery if you have:

  • Metastatic tumors, tumors that have spread to the brain from the lung, breast, or kidney
  • A benign brain tumor (acoustic neuroma, meningioma, craniopharyngioma, pituitary adenoma, hemangioblastoma, glomus tumor)
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • A Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive brain cancer
  • Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and cavernoma

Ahmad, in his first-year control, said, “I am glad that I was fortunate enough to find this hospital since they were capable of curing my tumor. I also feel pretty lucky myself for finding the right doctor. I praise Prof. Özduman and the entire Acıbadem staff who are a team that really care about what they do. I am grateful to all of them. Today, I am not really worried about the tumor. Everything seems to be all right with me these days.”

Prof. Koray Özduman, MD
Professor of Neurosurgery

Professor Dr. Koray Özduman is a leading specialist in neurosurgery in Turkiye, focused on neuro-oncology and the treatment of brain tumors. In 2000, he had a clinical fellowship at Matsumoto University, Department of Neurosurgery, Japan. He completed a clinical fellowship (2002-2003) and a research fellowship (2005-2007) at Yale University, USA. Currently, he is a Professor of Neurosurgery at Acibadem University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, and co-director of the Gamma Knife Unit at Acibadem Healthcare Group in Istanbul, Turkiye. Prof. Özduman is a founding member of the Brain Tumor Research Group at Acibadem University, with special emphasis on gliomas. International Fellow of American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

About Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital

Established in 2017, Acıbadem Altunizade is the latest hospital of the leading private healthcare provider in Turkiye and the region Acibadem Healthcare Group. Its genuine architecture, cutting-edge technology, and clinical excellence provide the high-end patient experience the Acibadem brand is known for. Acıbadem Altunizade offers advanced diagnostic and treatments services in multiple medical specialties, including but not limited to oncology, neurosurgery, heart care, robotic surgery, cell therapies for pediatric and adult patients. All its features, from the triple hybrid operating theatre system to the self-disinfecting door handles, are designed to increase the efficacy and safety of the patients. With its 98.000 m2 indoor area, 350 beds capacity, 18 operating theatres, 75 intensive care beds, and parking lot for 550 vehicles, Acıbadem Altunizade is fully equipped to meet all patient needs.

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