A Gamma Knife treatment cost depends on the following factors:
- Country for treatment. The prices for treatment with Gamma Knife varies from country to country. For instance, the most affordable therapy costs for therapy are in Turkey — 2-3 times cheaper than in South Korea or Western European countries, for instance. This is explained by a general living wage within the states, the quality of treatment remains the same.
- Number of treatment sessions with Gamma Knife. The cost of Gamma Knife treatment depends on the size of a tumor and the number of required therapeutic sessions. Only a doctor can determine the exact Gamma Knife procedure cost in your case.
Submit a request to get a detailed price list and schedule the treatment in a chosen hospital.
The Gamma Knife cost is pointed for 1 cycle in the listing. Anesthesia and admission are not required. A patient can pay additionally for a consultation with a doctor.
When choosing the best Gamma Knife surgery center, take into account:
- Gamma Knife unit effectiveness for treatment of a particular disease;
- neurologists, neurosurgeons, and radiologists qualification;
- diagnostic program accuracy.
One more criterion is Gamma Knife treatment cost. For instance, Gamma Knife surgery price in Turkey or India is 2-3 times lower than in Europe or Korea. Despite the affordable cost, the effectiveness is the same.
Gamma Knife treatment centers work according to strict international medical protocols.
Indications for Gamma Knife surgery
Doctors apply Gamma Knife to treat:
- brain tumors (up to 3.5 cm in size)
- neuralgia
- vascular malformations
- glaucoma and oncological eye diseases.
The latest Gamma Knife unit is applied to treat tumors of the brain and spinal cord.
Contraindications for Gamma Knife surgery
Gamma Knife is ineffective in case of big neoplasms. The method is not used if:
- tumor size is more than 3.5 cm
- a tumor grows rapidly
- a neoplasm has no clear boundaries
- a patient has increased intracranial pressure
- a patient is in a critical condition (cerebral edema, infections, cardiovascular diseases, exacerbation of chronic diseases).
The effect of Gamma Knife treatment is delayed and can be estimated 3-6 months after irradiation.
Gamma-ray irradiation concentrates in the target determined by a radiologist. The rays affect diseased cells and stop their growth. Gamma Knife is harmless for healthy cells and surrounding tissues.
What is the difference between Gamma Knife and other methods?
Incisions are not necessary for Gamma Knife session. There is no risk of bleeding, infections or damage to healthy tissues.
Full therapeutic effect is achieved after 1 procedure. When other types if radiosurgery (CyberKnife, Novalis linear accelerator) are applied, a patient receives 5-15 treatment cycles.
The accuracy of ray influence is up to 0.3 mm.
The treatment does not require hospitalization and rehabilitation period. A patient can return to usual lifestyle right after the irradiation.
Preparation for Gamma Knife procedure
A doctor detects tumor size and location using CT or MRI. In case of vascular brain malformations, specialists conduct angiography.
Before irradiation, a radiologist develops a treatment plan using MRI and angiography data. This plan is sent to Gamma Knife unit console.
The Gamma Knife radiosurgery cost is calculated after the complete diagnostics.
Gamma Knife procedure process
A patient is placed on the table. A doctor fixes the head in the special stereotactic frame. Soft sedatives are injected so a patient feels comfortable.
The apparatus directs the irradiation inside the tumor. It detects tumor size according to the treatment plan and coordinates frame.
The treatment takes from 10 minutes to several hours. The duration depends on the number of targets, their shape, and size. It also affects the Gamma Knife treatment cost.
During therapy, a doctor controls and communicates with a patient through video/audio monitoring.
After irradiation
When the procedure is over, a patient can return to usual lifestyle. The effect is not immediate, so a patient needs to undergo regular MRI. This way a doctor observes Gamma Knife therapy efficiency.
