Gamma Knife - a modern device for brain tumour radiosurgery
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State of the art and very expensive brain tumour radiosurgery device, Gamma Knife, will be available at the new cancer centre in Katowice. First procedures with its use will be carried out in 1.5 years.
The device will be purchased in public-private partnership. It is increasingly popular method of financing investments that would otherwise be beyond reach of public institutions. Gamma Knife, used for very precise and non-invasive treatment of brain tumours whose surgical removal is not possible for various reasons, costs 4 million euros.
The device will be purchased for the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 5 of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, also known as the Department of Ophthalmology, where an oncology centre is also being established. Its capabilities have recently been presented in Katowice during the conference "Radiosurgery today and tomorrow".
"It will undoubtedly be a huge improvement. The university, as a unit financed from the state budget, and especially clinical hospital of which we are the founding entity and to which we can give little as a university, certainly would not be able to afford such a device, it would not be possible" - told PAP Vice-Rector of the Medical University of Silesia Prof. Joanna Lewin-Kowalik.
She announced that the device would start serving patients in 1.5 years. The supplier will enter into a contract with the National Health Fund for benefits with the use of Gamma Knife, and the hospital will lease its premises prepared with PLN 11 million effort. The university will use the equipment in teaching and research activities.
Prof. Lewin–Kowalik reminded that at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice has two neurosurgery departments in Katowice and Sosnowiec and a pediatric neurology and neurosurgery department, where the staff working on the Gamma Knife will be recruited.
There are now about 300 such devices in the world, including one in Warsaw. It has been used to treat more than 600 thousand patients. Experts estimate that 375 patients per 1 million residents may need this treatment. 192 moving beam ensure efficacy and small invasiveness of treatment. They avoid healthy tissue, precisely target the tumour and kill cancer cells with an accuracy of 0.15 mm.
Gamma Knife can be used to effectively treat benign tumours, the device is also used in the case of tumours that are very difficult to reach and if the patient can not undergo surgery because of other diseases. It can also be used treat brain metastases, prolonging life and improving the patient\'s comfort. An exposure of up to 15 changes in the brain during a single session has been documented.
The conference in Katowice was attended by neurosurgeon Prof. Jean Regis from the University of Marseille. His centre is a global Gamma Knife technology leader. The professor will conduct the first treatment after installing the Gamma Knife in Katowice.
PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland
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