The next step in getting ready for the Gamma Knife procedure is being fitted with a stereotactic frame, a head-guiding device that positions the head inside the collimator helmet during treatment. To make the attachment of the head-guiding device more comfortable, a small amount of local anesthetic will be injected to numb the skin where the four pins on the device will be attached to your head. The head-guiding device will be removed after treatment is complete.
Next, computed tomography (CAT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or cerebral angiography studies will be performed in order to define the size, shape, location and nature of lesions or abnormalities. This imaging will enable the Gamma Knife team to tailor the treatment for your specific condition.
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