The Gamma Knife Center, located in Honolulu, Hawaii, announced that it has acquired a new Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion machine. The new device will be used for treating
inoperable brain tumors using radiation, the new Leksell Gamma Knife costs $4.5 million. According to a Gamma Knife Center fact sheet, Gamma Knife delivers high doses of radiation in an accurate and precise way that minimizes the radiation effect on nearby healthy tissues. The procedure in which the Gamma knife is used is a non-invasive one that can be used alone or combined with surgery to treat certain lesions. During the treatment, radiation is delivered via a large sphere into a smaller helmet worn by the patient. The treatment procedure is carried out as an outpatient procedure.
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Sean Nicholson, CFO of the Gamma Knife Center, said that patients usually receive their treatment using Gamma Knife in a single session that involves both diagnosis and treatment of the identified lesion. By acquiring the new Gamma Knife, The Gamma Knife Center will be able to provide treatment for certain areas, such as head and neck, which were previously untreatable without Gamma Knife. Treatment procedures are covered by a wide range of medical insurance companies, such as Medicare, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Medical Assurance Association, University Health Alliance and Kaiser.