Good
The London Gamma Knife Centre: Providing you with the ultimate in precision care for brain tumours
Platinum Medical Centre , 15 - 17 Lodge Road, St John's Wood , London, NW8 7JAWhy choose the London Gamma Knife Centre?
At the London Gamma Knife Centre we are able to offer patients the latest generation of non-invasive treatment for brain conditions. The Gamma Knife Icon is a precise and accurate way to deliver radiation to even the most complex brain tumours or abnormalities.
This painless treatment, which has many advantages over traditional surgery, does not require a general anaesthetic and involves only a single day outpatient visit. Most patients experience only minimal side effects and return to their normal activities the following day.
As a patient of the centre, you'll benefit from the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of specialists, ranging from oncologists to neurosurgeons and radiographers, all working together to make sure you receive the best possible care, tailored to your condition. We now have a joint radiosurgery multidisciplinary team between both The Wellington Hospital and our sister hospital, The Harley Street Clinic.
Our purpose-built centre is located at the Platinum Medical Centre in St Johns Wood, part of The Wellington Hospital.
Some of the conditions we treat with the Gamma Knife
Metastases
Metastatic (or secondary) brain tumours develop when cancerous cells in another part of the body spread to the brain
Meningioma
A type of benign brain tumour that develops in the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
Vestibular schwannoma
Also known as an acoustic neuroma, a tumour that grows slowly from the covering on the vestibular nerve.
Trigeminal neuralgia
A severe and sudden type of facial pain, believed to be caused by an artery or vein compressing your trigeminal nerve
Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
A complex interweaving of blood vessels in your brain with abnormal connections between your arteries and veins.
Pituitary adenoma
Pituitary tumours are non-cancerous growths that develop on the pituitary gland
Parkinson's tremor
Involuntary movement or shake that affects parts of the body, and a main symptoms of Parkinson's.
Glioblastoma
Gliomas are brain tumours starting from the glial cells, which support the neurons/nerve cells in the brain.
State of the art technology
Expert neurological care
Same day procedure
Multidisciplinary team
What is Gamma Knife radiosurgery?
The name of this treatment is in fact misleading, it is not a “knife” at all. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a safe, effective and non-invasive procedure using radiation to treat tumours. It can replace conventional surgery combined with radiation, or it can be used in conjunction with it.
Radiation is delivered with precision to the abnormal tissue, within either the head or neck, to tumours, vascular malformations and nerves. With radiosurgery there is very little risk of infection, almost no risk of bleeding and no risk of spinal fluid leakage. As there is no need for invasive surgery, treatment can usually be delivered in a single day with most patients experiencing minimal side effects and returning to their normal activities almost immediately.
The Gamma Knife system was the first ever radiosurgery device and works by damaging the cells so they can no longer grow. It has revolutionised the treatment of certain benign and malignant tumours in and around the brain, replacing the need for surgery in many cases. Unlike conventional radiotherapy, radiosurgery is only directed at the abnormal tissue and so it spares the unnecessary treatment of normal brain tissue nearby.
Radiation is delivered with precision to the abnormal tissue, within either the head or neck, to tumours, vascular malformations and nerves. With radiosurgery there is very little risk of infection, almost no risk of bleeding and no risk of spinal fluid leakage. As there is no need for invasive surgery, treatment can usually be delivered in a single day with most patients experiencing minimal side effects and returning to their normal activities almost immediately.
The Gamma Knife system was the first ever radiosurgery device and works by damaging the cells so they can no longer grow. It has revolutionised the treatment of certain benign and malignant tumours in and around the brain, replacing the need for surgery in many cases. Unlike conventional radiotherapy, radiosurgery is only directed at the abnormal tissue and so it spares the unnecessary treatment of normal brain tissue nearby.
How does Gamma Knife treatment work?
In this video, Mr Ian Sabin, Consultant Neurosurgeon, explains how Gamma Knife works and what conditions it can be used to help treat at The London Gamma Knife Centre.
Why do we choose the Icon™ technology?
Although Gamma Knife treatment has been in use for over 30 years, over the years technology has advanced at tremendous speed so that we can now treat brain tumours with unbeaten precision and accuracy. In order to deliver beams of radiation with submillimetre accuracy, the patient’s head must be held securely to avoid inaccuracy due to movement and here the Icon offers more flexibility than earlier machines.
For earlier Gamma Knife models, a frame is used to prevent head movement during treatment and allow for precise delivery of radiation. The Icon also adds the option of using a standard radiotherapy mask.
The Gamma Knife has a proven track record over 30 years and has become the gold standard for the treatment of many benign tumours which would previously have required surgery and also for multiple brain metastases previously considered untreatable.
Mr Ian Sabin, Consultant Neurosurgeon
Officially opened by Baroness Karren Brady
The London Gamma Knife Centre was officially opened at The Wellington Hospital, in St John's Wood, on Oct 16th 2018 by Baroness Karren Brady CBE who said;
“in 2006 Mr Ian Sabin saved my life with brain surgery at The Wellington, so honoured to open the new centre which continues to save lives."
Complex Care: How Do you Spot a Brain Tumour on a Scan?
“We can treat tumours as small as 1mm in diameter”
In this video Dr Levansri Makalanda explains how contrast enhanced scans are effective at detecting brain tumours.
A message from Martin Kemp
“A massive thank you from me and my family for saving my life with that machine. It will always be special”
Martin Kemp
Previous patient at The London Gamma Knife Centre
Martin Kemp shares a thank you message after he was treated at The London Gamma Knife Centre 20 years ago.
Expert neurological care
The Gamma Knife can be used to treat a range of brain conditions including benign tumours (vestibular schwannoma, meningioma, pituitary adenoma and other skull base tumours) and malignant brain tumours such as metastatic tumours and glioblastomas. It also treats a range of neurological disorders such as vascular disorders including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), cavernous malformation and dural arteriovenous fistula. Movement disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s tremor, OCD and trigeminal neuralgia (severe facial pain) are also treated by the Gamma Knife.
Using this new equipment, our multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiologists and physicists can target and treat conditions with higher accuracy than any other system, within 0.5mm, enabling our consultants to deliver a high dose of radiation to the affected areas, reducing the dose to the surrounding healthy brain. The design of the gamma knife also means there is much less radiation delivered to the rest of the body and because it is a minimally invasive procedure there is no risk of bleeding or infection.
The treatment process consists of four steps. First of all you will have a frame/or mask fitting followed by a CT, MRI or angiography. After your diagnostic imaging, you will rest whilst your medical team plans your treatment followed by the treatment itself. You can have treatment in a single day, and after a short recovery time you can return to normal activities almost immediately.
Meningioma treatment
“My symptoms were brushed off as a hormone imbalance, but it was in fact a brain tumour, which had been growing for years”
Giorgina Gray, age 37
Previous patient at The London Gamma Knife Centre
Hear how Gamma knife treated, Giorgina Gray, who suffered from headaches and neck spasms throughout her childhood and teenage years.
Our treating clinicians
FAQs about Gamma Knife radiosurgery
-
Who is suitable for Gamma Knife radiosurgery? icon plus
Gamma Knife radiosurgery can be used to treat a range of health conditions, which include:
- Benign tumours such as vestibular schwannoma, meningioma, pituitary adenoma and other skull base tumours
- Malignant tumours such as metastatic tumours and glioblastomas
- Neurological disorders such as vascular disorders including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), cavernous malformation and dural arteriovenous fistula
- Movement disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s tremor, OCD and trigeminal neuralgia (severe facial pain)
-
Is the Gamma Knife radiosurgery painful? icon plus
If a stereotactic frame is used you will feel some discomfort from the local anaesthetic, and pressure from the pins when tightened. The actual Gamma Knife treatment is painless.
-
How long does the Gamma Knife radiosurgery take? icon plus
The duration of the treatment can range from 30 minutes to several hours.
-
Is Gamma Knife radiosurgery safe? icon plus
The radiation dose plan will make the treatment as safe as possible and most people will experience few, if any side effects. There is a small risk of complications and these will be discussed with you in advance of treatment and are documented in our patient guide.
-
Is Gamma Knife radiosurgery effective? icon plus
Results have proven to be superior or comparable to conventional neurosurgery, depending on the specific condition treated.
-
When will I see an improvement or know if the treatment has been successful? icon plus
Generally, the effects of Gamma Knife radiosurgery take place over many months, or even years and this is the reason for an annual review. Some lesions shrink gradually and eventually disappear while others simply experience no further tumour growth. In a few cases when patients are being treated for Trigeminal Neuralgia, some relief may occur shortly after treatment, although often it requires weeks for pain relief to occur.
-
Can Gamma Knife radiosurgery cause another tumour? icon plus
In the past 30 years there have been sporadic reports of radiosurgery causing new tumours elsewhere in the head, and on very rare occasions cancerous change in a treated tumour has been reported. Speak to your consultant about this if you are worried. Based on the existing experience with radiation the incidence of malignant change is very small.
-
Following treatment, when can I go back to work? icon plus
As soon as you feel well enough. There is no reason why you should not go back to work the following day.
The London Gamma Knife Centre
Date : 04/04/2022
Accreditation
At The London Gamma Knife Centre, we operate a Quality Management System which complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 for Radiosurgery with Gamma Knife
Contact us about Gamma Knife treatment
Any questions about gamma knife treatment, or would you like to make an appointment? You can call or email us and we'll be happy to help.
020 3553 2432