Gamma Knife for Children

Certain brain lesions in children (e.g. AVM’s) are suited for treatment with the Gamma Knife. The minimally invasive nature of the therapy, short treatment time, and brief recovery periods are attractive features for patients and their families. Nevertheless, we prefer to use the gamma procedure in children only if there are no other treatment alternatives. The decision should be made (in consultation with the family) by a neurosurgeon with a large experience in all treatment alternatives for the specific condition under consideration.
The technique and treatment procedure with the Gamma Knife is essentially the same for adult and pediatric patients. However, children receive general anesthesia and remain in the hospital overnight.
Link to the UVa Children’s Medical Hospital.