Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
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Christopher Duma, MD, FACS
Neurosurgeon & Brain Tumor Specialist located in Newport Beach, CA
Board-certified neurosurgeon Christopher Duma, MD, FACS, is one of the most experienced providers of Gamma Knife™ radiosurgery. At his Newport Beach, California, neurosurgical practice, Dr. Duma offers on-site diagnostics for brain tumors and other brain conditions and creates a custom treatment plan to address related symptoms. He may recommend Gamma Knife radiosurgery to reduce the severity of symptoms, like pain, tremors, and loss of mobility. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Duma today, by phone or online, to learn more about the benefits of Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Q & A
What is the Gamma Knife?
A Gamma Knife is a noninvasive, scalpel-like tool that uses an array of 192 intersecting beams of high-intensity gamma radiation waves to treat brain tumors and vascular abnormalities.
Dr. Duma uses the Gamma Knife Perfexion™ to perform surgical techniques on the brain for more accuracy and precision. The Perfexion uses 10 times less radiation than other methods, including the CyberKnife™.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery procedures take place at Hoag Memorial Hospital, the first hospital in the nation to install the Gamma Knife Perfexion technology
What conditions can be treated with Gamma Knife?
The Gamma Knife radiosurgery procedure allows Dr. Duma to focus gamma radiation on brain tumors or other abnormal tissues to treat pain, tremors, and other symptoms of conditions like:
- Tremors
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Malignant and benign brain tumors
After a careful evaluation of your current condition and medical history, Dr. Duma can determine if techniques using the Gamma Knife are right for you.
What happens during Gamma Knife radiosurgery?
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an outpatient procedure that allows you to return home the same day to recover. During your treatment, Dr. Duma passes beams of gamma radiation into areas of the brain responsible for your condition without needing incisions.
To ensure beam delivery is accurate, you can expect to wear a stereotactic frame. This frame is a painless device that keeps your head in the proper position and offers reference points for Dr. Duma to target with the gamma radiation beams.
The beams are safe for normal brain tissue, but when Dr. Duma focuses the beams on a targeted area, the technology becomes 200 times more powerful than individual beams. This power is necessary to destroy vascular abnormalities and tumors in just one treatment.
What are the benefits of Gamma Knife radiosurgery?
Because treatment doesn’t require incisions, Dr. Duma can use Gamma Knife radiosurgery techniques to address brain conditions, even when you’re not a candidate for open surgery.
Following your procedure, you can expect to see noticeable improvements in your symptoms within several months. In many cases, only one Gamma Knife radiosurgery technique is necessary to achieve your desired results.
Learn more about the treatment benefits of Gamma Knife radiosurgery for treating brain tumors and other conditions by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Duma. You can book an appointment online or by calling the office today.
For more information about what services Dr. Duma offers, visit the "Procedures" Section.