Gamma Knife

Long Island Gamma Knife^® Center at South Nassau

The Long Island Gamma Knife Center at South Nassau Communities Hospital offers Long Islanders access to state-of-the-art, nonsurgical treatment of certain brain abnormalities — at a convenient location. And our center is the only one on Long Island to use the Gamma Knife Perfexion™ to treat small- to medium-sized abnormalities, particularly those that are difficult to treat. This technology even allows our experts to reach areas of the brain that would otherwise be difficult to treat, including areas not safely accessible using traditional surgery.

The Gamma Knife is not a knife. Instead, this technology requires no incision at all. It works by allowing the physician to target radiation on the precise area of the brain to destroy a tumor or other abnormal tissue deep within the brain. The beams are focused with such precision that radiation is delivered only to the target, sparing surrounding healthy tissue, blood vessels and nerves. And physicians can typically treat several areas of the brain in a single session, if necessary.

There is no bleeding, no risk of infection, and no lengthy hospital stay following treatment. In fact, most patients can return to their normal daily activities the day after Gamma Knife surgery.

Types of conditions we treat with Gamma Knife technology:

• Malignant tumors (cancers that can spread to other parts of the body)
  

• Benign tumors (that do not spread to other parts of the body)
  

• Acoustic neuromas (noncancerous growths that can affect hearing)
  

• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs, a tangle of abnormal blood vessels)
  

• Functional disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia (a chronic condition that causes face pain)
  

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