Treatment
Once your treatment plan is ready, you will be taken into the
treatment room. You will lie on your back on the treatment
couch and once you are comfortable the head frame will be securely
clamped to it by a special support system. Once you are in
the correct position for treatment and the radiographers have
completed their checks, they will leave the room and your treatment
will commence. The couch will move into the dome section of
the Gamma Knife.
The treatment cannot be seen or felt and is silent, but you are
able to listen to music if you wish. If you would like to
listen to your own music then please ask the radiographers. There
is the ability to play music via phone or CD. You are observed on
television monitors from the control room at all times. The time
taken to deliver treatment can be between 30 minutes and 4 hours
depending on your individual treatment plan.
If you have any issues during the treatment you can speak to a
radiographer who can communicate with you throughout the treatment
and can turn off the machine and come into the room to check on you
if required. 
When your treatment is complete the head frame will be removed.
This is not painful. The pressure caused by the frame can
take 20-30 minutes to subside.
In the majority of cases, you will be able to go home
after an 30-60mins of observation. However, some patients may
require an overnight stay; if so, arrangements will be made for you
to be admitted and you will be discharged the next day.
When you leave you will receive a copy of specific discharge
instructions and the date for your follow up appointment together
with emergency contact numbers should you feel concerned about
anything. Information, in the form of a letter, is also provided
for your GP. However, if you have any concerns please contact us on
0117 3426717.
Are there any side effects?
If you have any of the side effects described below or any
concerns following your treatment, please contact the Gamma Knife
team on 0117 342 6717.
After the treatment there is a small risk of developing an
infection at the pin sites. If one becomes red or produces a
discharge then please inform the Gamma Knife team. You may be
advised to see your GP for a course of antibiotics.
If you experience a severe headache that does not settle with
pain relief but may ease when lying down please contact us
immediately. If you have a significant amount of clear fluid
leaking from any screw site, contact us straight away. 
You may feel tired for a few weeks after the treatment. You may
also have a headache or experience some nausea or vomiting.
Specific side effects depend on the location of the lesion. Some
patients may experience worsening of their symptoms after treatment
and may require a long course of steroids to reduce pressure in the
affected areas and help control these symptoms. Some patients may
have a seizure and if you are at risk, you may be given
anti-seizure medication.
Rarely tumours bleed after SRS but if this does occur this may
result in a severe headache. If you experience a severe headache
that does not settle with painkillers you need to contact us via
the emergency contact numbers:
0117 342 6717 Gamma Knife Suite 9am - 5pm
0117 342 2011 BHOC acute care 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week
