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Press Release

Roswell Park Cancer Institute Leads Radiosurgery Capabilities in New York State with Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion

2009-05-07

Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is the first center in New York state to install Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™, an advanced radiosurgery device specifically designed to treat one or more lesions in the head in a single session.


Atlanta, GA and Buffalo, NY, May 07, 2009

An alternative to open-brain surgery and daily radiation treatments, Gamma Knife Perfexion uses focused doses of radiation, without making a single incision, to treat brain tumors, as well as other brain disorders. This unmatched method provides pinpoint accuracy, high efficiency and outstanding results. Patients benefit from fast, painless treatment, often conducted in an outpatient surgical setting without the need for general anesthesia or even convalescence.

The newest installation was purchased in collaboration with fundraising support from donors across Western New York. Donations also will support a lectureship to bring international leaders in the field together to share best practices.

Dheerendra Prasad, MD, MCh, is Director of the Gamma Knife Program at RPCI. “For the past decade I have been actively involved in the design, development and refinement of the software and hardware associated with this technology,” says Prasad. “This latest version of Leksell Gamma Knife incorporates features for added safety and accuracy and sets a new standard of quality in the field of radiosurgery.”

Perfexion uses a computer-controlled table to move patients into treatment position, and a larger, fully automated helmet collimator system. These advances provide more comfort to patients and eliminate the need for time-consuming adjustments when treating multiple lesions, thereby reducing treatment times.

“This technology offers another treatment option to patients diagnosed with recurrent head and neck cancers, enabling them to avoid a major surgery, in some cases to receive radiation a second time after having a prior therapy,” adds Prasad.

Roswell Park is one of the nation’s top five programs treating more than 300 patients a year.