By Lisa Rosenberg

Discovered in 1950 by Lars Leksell and Brje LarssonNoninvasive procedureUses precise radiation to attack cellsSimilar to MRI and CT scansPlan mapped out ahead of timeFrame fixed to skull

Radiation shrinks tumorsShrinks at the same rate of growthOutpatient ProcedurePainlessClaustrophobiaCommon Side EffectSwellingRare Side EffectsNauseaSeizuresIrritationExtremely RareVisual or Hearing loss

Cyclotron Particle Beam (Proton)MovementOver $100 millionOrdinary modified Linear Particle AcceleratorMoving MachineArcs cross to target one pointOver 3.5 cmCobalt 60 (Photon)Gamma Knife201 cobalt sourcesUnder 3.5 cm

Arteriovenous MalformationsBrain TumorsBenignMalignantMetastaticDoesnt Remove TumorDistorts the DNAFunctional DisordersTrigeminal NeuralgiaDeep Cluster HeadachesOCD

Little Research on Differences Between MachinesDeep Cluster HeadachesHigh relapse ratesOCDPlacebo Effect

Covered by Health Insurance, MMOs, PPOs and MedicaidLittle as $100Without Insurance$12,000 - $55,000 for everythingContinuing TrialsBetter Option for Many IndividualsLess RiskLow CostLess Time

The New York Times: Health Guide International RadioSurgery Association Johns Hopkins Neurology and Neurosurgery New York-Presbyterian Clinical Trials The Dana Foundation University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy and Oncology The Neuroscience Institute UW Health: Stereotactic Radiosurgery www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/B_EXTRANET_HEALTH_INFORMTION-FlexMemeber-Show_Public_HFFY_1105110025629.html>Cost Helper