By Lisa Rosenberg

 Discovered in 1950 by Lars Leksell and Börje Larsson  Noninvasive procedure  Uses precise radiation to attack cells  Similar to MRI and CT scans  Plan mapped out ahead of time  Frame fixed to skull

 Radiation shrinks tumors  Shrinks at the same rate of growth  Outpatient Procedure  Painless  Claustrophobia  Common Side Effect ◦ Swelling  Rare Side Effects ◦ Nausea ◦ Seizures ◦ Irritation  Extremely Rare ◦ Visual or Hearing loss

 Cyclotron – Particle Beam (Proton) ◦ Movement ◦ Over $100 million  Ordinary modified Linear Particle Accelerator ◦ Moving Machine ◦ Arcs cross to target one point ◦ Over 3.5 cm  Cobalt – 60 (Photon) ◦ Gamma Knife ◦ 201 cobalt sources ◦ Under 3.5 cm

 Arteriovenous Malformations  Brain Tumors ◦ Benign ◦ Malignant ◦ Metastatic  Doesn’t Remove Tumor ◦ Distorts the DNA  Functional Disorders ◦ Trigeminal Neuralgia ◦ Deep Cluster Headaches ◦ OCD

 Little Research on Differences Between Machines  Deep Cluster Headaches ◦ High relapse rates  OCD ◦ Placebo Effect

 Covered by Health Insurance, MMO’s, PPO’s and Medicaid ◦ Little as $100  Without Insurance ◦ $12,000 - $55,000 for everything  Continuing Trials  Better Option for Many Individuals ◦ Less Risk ◦ Low Cost ◦ Less Time

 The New York Times: Health Guide  International RadioSurgery Association  Johns Hopkins Neurology and Neurosurgery  New York-Presbyterian  Clinical Trials  The Dana Foundation  University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery  Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy and Oncology  The Neuroscience Institute  UW Health: Stereotactic Radiosurgery FlexMemeber-Show_Public_HFFY_ html>  Cost Helper