Pittsburgh, December 22, 2009 -- On December 21, University of Pittsburgh Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery physicians treated their 10,000th Gamma Knife patient. The milestone surgery -- the treatment of a metastatic brain tumor in an 81-year-old man -- distinguishes the center as a world leader in this advanced minimally invasive radiosurgery procedure.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery represents one of the most advanced means available to treat deep-seated vascular malformations, brain tumors, and other brain disorders once considered inoperable. The treatment is advantageous because it does not require a surgical incision to 'expose' the lesion.

“Our involvement in the development of clinical uses for the Gamma Knife has given us the rare opportunity that few clinicians experience to shape the field of radiosurgery,” said L. Dade Lunsford, MD, Lars Leksell and Distinguished Professor of Neurological Surgery and co-director of the Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery.

In 1987, Dr. Lunsford was responsible for bringing this technology to the United States and the University of Pittsburgh. In the ensuing 22 years, the department has evolved into a world-leader in Gamma Knife treatment of brain disorders with patients from around the world coming here for treatment. The department currently houses three Gamma Knife units.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a multidisciplinary procedure that relies on the talents of radiation oncologists and medical physicists who partner with neurosurgeons in the treatment of often difficult clinical problems.

The lessons learned from over 22 years of clinical care, education and research has allowed department physicians to help guide the development of the technology.

“We have learned from these ten thousand cases that by helping to advance this technology, we are able to deliver optimal management of patients with increasingly complex and often deadly brain tumors and other brain and vein abnormalities," said Douglas Kondziolka, MD, Peter Jannetta Professor of Neurological Surgery, department vice chair for education and co-director of the center. Thankfully, in most cases, we can extend our patients’ lives and preserve and enhance the quality of their lives.”

Although clinicians have historically turned to Gamma Knife surgery when whole brain radiation therapy fails or if new tumors arise, this non-invasive technique is rapidly becoming the first treatment option, Dr. Lunsford noted.

“Where Gamma Knife surgery is available, I suspect more than 50 percent of patients will receive this therapy as the primary treatment for newly diagnosed cancer that has spread to the brain, to avoid the known long term cognitive decline associated with whole brain radiation,” he said.

Advances in imaging technology, such as MRI, enable doctors to detect metastases at earlier stages of cancer evaluation, before the tumors become large and begin to cause symptoms. This development, coupled with Gamma Knife precision, has led to its increased use to treat brain metastases.

“With Gamma Knife, patients whose cancer has spread to the brain now have an excellent chance that the problem can be controlled,” Dr. Lunsford observed. “Doing less invasive surgery is a way that we can definitely improve patient outcome. We reduce hospital stays, we reduce cost and we get patients back in the workforce faster.”

In addition to patient care, the center is also 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.