Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Gamma knife radiosurgery is surgery without a scalpel. The procedure combines radiation oncology and neurosurgery to treat lesions in the brain, including tumors.

Among the upsides, there's no incision in the skull, the radiation can be given in a single outpatient setting, and there are no typical side effects like hair loss, and nausea and vomiting, that come with traditional radiation therapy.

On this Mayo Clinic Radio segment, Dr. Bruce Pollock, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, explains how gamma knife radiosurgery is performed.