This is a type of radiotherapy which has developed from lesioning techniques. It does not actually use a knife and is non-invasive as it involves directing a source of gamma radiation through the skull at damaged brain tissue.
The risks of this surgery, including swelling (oedema) of the brain, are relatively high compared to other techniques and are still somewhat unknown. The effects may take several weeks or months to be seen, plus the patient’s responses cannot be monitored as they can be during other surgical procedures. It is therefore currently not considered a practical form of treatment.
