Brain Surgery Without Incision

UAMS has a reputation for staying on the forefront on medical technology, capable of developing and utilizing the latest breakthroughs in the treatment of numerous ailments and illnesses. Our dedication to finding the most up-to-date care for our patients led us to the next generation in non-invasive brain surgery, the Gamma Knife Perfexion™. UAMS is the only facility in Arkansas providing its patients with access to the Perfexion system, which treats brain tumors using a technique called stereotactic radiosurgery. The system, which precisely targets the tumor site, works by aiming 192 cobalt-60 beams of radiation so that they converge at the site of the tumor. The technique is safe because each beam contains only a small, harmless dose of radiation. Only at the spot where all 192 beams converge is the dose strong enough to destroy the tumor.

This revolutionary new system, designed to treat patients with brain disorders (including benign and malignant tumors) as well vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition that causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or shock-like face pain. Unlike its predecessor, the new Perfexion system is able to reach tumors with ease anywhere in the brain and it is even capable of delivering stereotactic radiosurgery in the cervical spine.

Developed in conjunction with an international team of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and medical physicists, the Gamma Knife is a non-invasive alternative to conventional brain surgery. No incisions are necessary, nor is general anesthesia except for cases involving young children or patients with a high anxiety level. Patients who undergo Gamma Knife radiosurgery typically leave the hospital the same day or the day after, making it a cost-effective option compared to open surgery.