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![](db+"spacer.gif?Openimageresource") Clinical Specialty
Gamma Knife/Radiosurgery
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| PROGRAM DESCRIPTION |  |
Washington University School of Medicine offered the first Gamma Knife technology in Missouri. This technology enables physicians to treat hard-to-reach brain targets with increased accuracy and safety in a well-tolerated outpatient procedure. The Gamma Knife focuses 201 radiation beams on precisely defined targets, without an incision and with minimal effects to surrounding healthy tissue. Gamma Knife radiosurgery has been done over the past three decades, and it has become widely available in the past decade. The Gamma Knife unit has a long, well-documented history of accuracy and success in delivering focused radiation. As of 2004, nearly 300,000 patients worldwide had been treated with Gamma Knife radiation. More than 1,600 patients have been treated at the Washington University Gamma Knife Center.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a treatment option in a number of neurosurgical conditions. In some instances it represents an alternative form of treatment that may be equivalent to a traditional neurosurgical procedure. Because it is generally done on an outpatient basis, it is cost-efficient, preventing lengthy hospital stays, expensive medications, and occasional long-term rehabilitation.
The Gamma Knife Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is jointly owned by Barnes-Jewish Hospital and HealthSouth and opened in June 1998. The facility allows credentialed physicians from the St. Louis metropolitan area to treat patients with certain neurosurgical conditions within the Barnes-Jewish Hospital unit.
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| CONDITIONS & TREATMENTS |
Radiosurgery is a term coined by Lars Leksell, M.D., the pioneer developer of the Gamma Knife. The procedure involves the precise delivery of a volume of high-dose radiation contoured in a customized fashion to be delivered to a distinct target in the brain. More specifically, Gamma Knife radiosurgery may be indicated for treatment of select patients with metastatic brain disease, gliomas, pituitary adenomas, acoustic schwannomas, meningiomas, arteriovenous malformations (AVM), trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain), essential tremors, epilepsy and selected other neurologic conditions.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is routinely done as an outpatient procedure and typically lasts four to five hours. A custom treatment plan is developed for each individual patient.
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| FACULTY |
Adult Neurosurgery Providers
Michael R. Chicoine, M.D.
Ralph G. Dacey Jr., M.D.
Joshua M. Dowling, M.D.
Eric C. Leuthardt, M.D.
Keith M. Rich, M.D.
Gregory J. Zipfel, M.D.
Pediatric Neurosurgery Providers
Matthew D. Smyth, M.D.
Radiation Oncologists
Joseph Simpson, M.D., Ph.D.
David Mansur, M.D.
Imran Zoberi, M.D.
Physicists
Robert Drzymala, Ph.D.
Eric Klein, M.S.
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| CONFERENCES |
The Neuro-oncology Tumor Board, a group of specialists from multiple departments including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical neuro-oncologists, neuroradiologists and neuropathologists, meets weekly. Clinical, surgical, radiological and pathological findings from particular patients are discussed along with potential treatment plans.
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| MAKE AN APPOINTMENT |
To make an appointment, please contact Eric Filiput at (314) 454-7159 or efiliput@bjc.org.
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| PATIENT OFFICE LOCATIONS |
Adult Patients
Neuroscience Center
Center for Advanced Medicine
4921 Parkview Place, Suite 6C
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Pediatric Patients
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
1 Children’s Place, Suite 4E
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Helpful Maps
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| SPECIALTY LINKS |
Radiosurgery and Radiation Treatments
Gamma Knife of St. Louis
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