臺北醫學大學 臺北神經醫學中心 校級神經醫學研究中心

     
       Surgical intervention for deep-seated brain lesions using traditional methods poses considerable challenges, with patients facing significant surgical risks and postoperative sequelae. Treating the aforementioned brain lesions with Gamma Knife radiosurgery can offer patients satisfactory outcomes in a safe and effective manner. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an advanced method for treating brain disorders, combining stereotactic localization techniques, three-dimensional imaging scans, computer calculations, and focused beam irradiation therapy. It employs 192 Co-60 radiation sources to concentrate radiation on intracranial lesions, with an error margin of less than 0.5mm, minimizing damage to surrounding brain tissue. Patients can resume normal activities the following day, making it a valuable tool for treating deep-seated brain lesions.

       With over a million patients globally having undergone Gamma Knife treatment, the introduction of the new Perfexion Gamma Knife at Taipei Medical Institute has treated 2,556 cases of brain lesions over the past 14 years. Gamma Knife radiosurgery not only controls brain tumors in the long term, thus extending patients' survival rates, but also improves their quality of life significantly. Treatment involves precise radiation therapy based on stereotactic imaging and meticulous computer calculations by physicians to halt tumor growth and achieve stability or shrinkage. For benign brain tumors (such as meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, etc.), long-term control rates range from 87% to 98%, with regular MRI scans indicating tumor shrinkage or stability, eliminating the need for open cranial surgery. For malignant tumors, based on accumulated experience and international reports, Gamma Knife treatment shows promising results, particularly for small metastatic brain tumors in deep brain regions. Tumor shrinkage can be observed 2-3 months post-treatment. While recurrence is possible with malignant tumors, it may prolong patients' survival time, crucially improving their quality of life and allowing them to comply with internal medicine or other treatments for the primary disease. Regarding vascular lesions (such as arteriovenous malformations and cerebral dural arteriovenous fistulas), the success rate after 2 years is around 80-90%, with larger lesions requiring extended follow-up periods of 3-5 years, resulting in approximately 60% lesion disappearance with minimal serious side effects and high patient satisfaction. For trigeminal neuralgia patients, 82% experience significant pain relief 2-3 months post-treatment, with 55% no longer requiring medication. This illustrates that Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery is indeed a relatively safe, rapid, and advanced treatment option for eligible patients with relevant diseases.

       Currently, the Gamma Knife Center comprises one director, five full-time and part-time attending physicians, one medical physicist, one case manager, and two nurses. These members, including professionals from neurosurgery, radiation oncology, and radiology departments, form a professional and versatile treatment team, adhering to a patient-centered service approach. They promote holistic, accountable, and long-term follow-up care, creating a safe, comfortable, and welcoming medical environment to serve patients with intracranial tumors and vascular lesions.