Pittsburgh, May 4, 2004 -- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Department of Neurological Surgery placed into operation its third Gamma Knife unit for brain radiosurgery on May 5, 2004 becoming the only clinical site in the world with three operating units. The addition of this third unit further establishes the Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery's stature as a world-leader in treating brain disorders.

The robotic technology utilized with the Gamma Knife unit represents one of the most advanced means available to treat deep-seated vascular malformations, brain tumors, and selected patients with pain, movement disorders, or epilepsy once considered inoperable. The treatment is advantageous because it does not require a surgical incision to 'expose' the lesion.

Since the first Gamma Knife unit was installed at UPMC Presbyterian in 1987 -- the first unit installed in North America -- over 6300 patients from all over the world have undergone treatment here. The Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery has a higher patient volume -- now exceeding 700 patients per year -- than any other center in the United States.

In addition to patient care, the center is a highly-regarded international training center for Gamma Knife radiosurgery, holding several University of Pittsburgh CME-accredited training courses a year for neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and their staff.

Along with the additional unit, the Gamma Knife suite was expanded to nearly twice its previous size. A new reception area was added along with new patient preparation rooms, consultation suites and a new training area.

"The field of brain and body radiosurgery continues to grow dramatically as neurosurgeons respond to the shift of patient care to less invasive, multidisciplinary, and more effective treatment options for patients with tumors and vascular malformations," comments L. Dade Lunsford, MD, Lars Leksell professor and chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and co-director of the Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery.

"As an international training and outcomes analysis site, the UPMC Center for Image Guided Neurosurgery uses the latest generation brain -- the Leksell Gamma Knife -- and body -- CyberKnife -- radiosurgical technologies to enhance patient outcomes and to train the next generation of neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists."

"Our expanded Gamma Knife services will allow us to treat more patients efficiently," adds Douglas Kondziolka, MD, co-director of the center, "particularly those with metastatic cancer to the brain which represent the largest current indication for radiosurgery."

Additional minimally invasive technologies of the center include dedicated intraoperative CT scanning and CyberKnife radiosurgery, exclusively applied to spinal tumors.