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Leksell Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

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Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Abstract

Lars Leksell’s conception of stereotactic radiosurgery and the invention of the Gamma Knife as a means to realize his idea was the result of his integration of a many parallel developments in neurosurgery and radiology. Throughout its history, Gamma Knife radiosurgery has continued to evolve in order to take advantage of new imaging modalities, improving computer and hardware technology, and advances in our understanding of high-dose radiobiology. This chapter summarizes the technique of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) from both a historical and technical point of view and in the process tries to show how integration of new developments promises a prominent role for GKSRS in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Virginia, Departments of Neurological Surgery, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Diogo P. Cordeiro

  2. University of Virginia, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Neurological Surgery, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    David J. Schlesinger

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  1. Diogo P. Cordeiro
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  2. David J. Schlesinger
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Correspondence to David J. Schlesinger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic, Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Radiation Oncology, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Daniel M. Trifiletti

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Samuel T. Chao

  3. Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Arjun Sahgal

  4. University of Virginia, Departments of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Jason P. Sheehan

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Cordeiro, D.P., Schlesinger, D.J. (2019). Leksell Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. In: Trifiletti, D., Chao, S., Sahgal, A., Sheehan, J. (eds) Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16924-4_5

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