The Department of Neurological Surgery and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education in the Health Science present an online Gamma Knife® training course, "Principles and Practice of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery," targeted at neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, fellows and residents interested in brain stereotactic radiosurgery.
(See First Virtual Gamma Knife Training Course Held.)
Through participation in this Gamma Knife training program, registrants should obtain knowledge about the practical aspects of stereotactic radiosurgery using the Leksell Gamma Knife. Principles of radiation physics and radiobiology, as they apply to single-session, focused, small volume irradiation will be covered. Registrants should be able to create radiosurgery dose plans for brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. At the close of the Gamma Knife training program, participants should be able to discuss those issues relevant to dose selection in individual patients and discuss the spectrum of complications after radiosurgery and their management.
The next course is scheduled for January 10-17, 2025. (All 2025 course dates are listed below.) Please contact Kelly Powell for more information on course availability and enrollment. (See course application.)
Participation by all individuals is encouraged. Advance notification of any special needs will help us provide better service. Please notify us of your needs at least two weeks in advance of the program by calling 412-647-7744.
This course is sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences and the Department of Neurological Surgery’s Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery.
Syllabus/Topics
Course Faculty
Tuition and Registration
CME Credits
Disclaimer
Future Course Dates
Syllabus/Topics
Basic Radiosurgery (Frame Emphasis)
2.00 Pearls of Leksell Model G Frame Application
2.01 Frame based SRS Part 1: Frame construction
2.02 Frame based SRS Part 2: Frame application, treatment and removal
3.02 Hands on Instructions-Advanced Dose Planning 3: Additional
3.03 Hands on Instructions-Advanced Dose Planning 4: Administration
3.09 Hands on Instructions-LGK ICON/ PFX Procedures and Safety Tips
4.01 A PFX Case: Wheels- in to Wheels- Out
ICON SRS (Mask Emphasis)
2.06 Lecture: ICON Introduction
2.14 Hands on Instructions-ICON: Cone Beam
2.13 Hands on Instructions-Advanced Dose Plan Practice 2
2.12 Hands on Instructions-Advanced Dose Plan Practice 1
2.11 Hands on Instructions-Physics QA and Calibrations 2
2.07 Hands on Instructions-ICON Upgrade Training Dose Planning
3.01 An ICON Mask Case
LGK Esprit
Introduction to LGK esprit
Introduction to the Vantage Frame
Roles and Outcomes of SRS
2.08 Lecture: Brain Metastases
2.09 Lecture: Schwannomas
2.10 Lecture: Radiation Related Tumors
2.11 Hands on Instructions-Physics QA and Calibrations 2
2.15 Lecture: Trigeminal Neuralgia
2.16 Lecture: Craniopharyngiomas and Pituitary Tumors
2.17 Lecture: Glomus Tumors
3.04 Lecture: AVM Radiosurgery
3.05 Lecture: Meningioma Radiosurgery
3.06 Lecture: Rare Tumors
3.07 Lecture: Cavernous Malformations
3.08 Lecture: Spine Radiosurgery
4.02 Lecture: Gliomas
4.02 Lecture: Gliomas-2 _CH
Dose Planning Demonstration
3.10 Test Case-Dose Planning (Forward)
3.11 Test Case-Dose Planning (Inverse)
3.12 Test Case-Dose Planning (Lightening)
3.13 Dose Planning for Tremor radiosurgery
3.14 Dose Planning for Trigeminal neuralgia radiosurgery-LDL
3.15 Dose Planning for AVM-LDL
3.16 Cav_sinus meningioma Automated Dose Planning
3.17 Cav_sinus meningioma Forward Dose Planning
Advanced SRS
4.04 Lecture: Functional Radiosurgery
4.04B Lecture SRS for Epilepsy
4.06 Lecture: Dose Selection & Informed Consent
4.07 Lecture-Anesthesia for Pediatric Gamma Knife Surgery
Learn from Lunsford-AVM
Learn from Lunsford-VS
Learn from Lunsford-Brain Metastases Radiosurgery
Learn from Lunsford-Metastatic tumor Pearls in the Age of SRS
4.08 Lecture: Conclusions of the Course
Zoom Meetings (live sessions)
Introduction-Kick off zoom meeting
Supervised dose planning-session 1
Supervised dose planning-session 2
Q & A and conclusions Zoom session
Course Faculty
Costas G. Hadjipanayis, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurological Surgery
Director, Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
University of Pittsburgh
L. Dade Lunsford, MD
Lars Leksell Professor of Neurological Surgery
Director Emeritus, Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
University of Pittsburgh
Ajay Niranjan, MD, MBA
Professor of Neurological Surgery
Director, UPMC MEG Brain Mapping Center
Associate Director, Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
University of Pittsburgh
John C. Flickinger, MD
Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Pittsburgh
Peter Gerszten, MD, MPH
Peter E. Sheptak Professor of Neurological Surgery
University of Pittsburgh
Greg Bednarz, PhD
Miranda Crum, MSN, RN, CSRN
Technical Support
Susan E. Lohman, RN, CNOR (Elekta)
Andy Lunsford
Senior Field Service Engineer (Elekta)
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials distributed at the time of the conference.
Tuition and Registration
Tuition fee is $6,500.
As course enrollment is limited to 15 people, early registration is recommended. Please complete the Registration Form and return to:
Kelly Powell, Course Coordinator
UPMC Presbyterain/Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery
200 Lothrop Street/Suite F188
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582
e-mail: powellkc@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-647-7744
A current digital photograph of the course participant must be submitted when registering. Submit the photo to Kelly Powell at powellkc@upmc.edu.
Registration will not be accepted without tuition payment. Please make tuition check payable to, “UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside,” including the name of participant and last five digits of the participant's social security number. For more information on tuition, please contact Kelly Powell at 412-647-7744.
Credit card payment is also accepted. Online payment can be made at www.upmc.com/pay/gammaknife.
Please note: All cancellations must be received two weeks prior to start of course or tuition will be applied to a future training course.
A .pdf version of the program/registration form is available for download.
Accreditation and Credit Designation
In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh School designates this live activity for a maximum of 50.50 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Medical Physicist (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh School designates this live activity for a maximum of 34.50 Medical Physics Continuing Education Credits through CAMPEP. Medical physicist should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclaimer Statement
The information presented at this CME program represents the views and opinions of the individual presenters, and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or Affiliates and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Reasonable efforts have been taken intending for educational subject matter to be presented in a balanced, unbiased fashion and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each program attendee must always use his/her own personal and professional judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions including, without limitation, FDA-approved uses and any off-label uses.
Future Course Dates
2025:
January 10-17
March 7-14
May 9-16
July 11-18
September 5-12
November 7-14