Not all tumors are cancerous. And Acoustic Neuroma, also called vestibular schwannoma is one such non-cancerous tumor that grows relay slow. They develop in the vestibular nerve, which handles balance, equilibrium, and hearing. Acoustic Neuroma that travels from your inner ear to the brain usually does not grow, but even if they grow, it will grow at a very slow pace. Only in minor cases do they grow rapidly, giving pressure on the brain skulls and interfering with the functioning of the body.
The main issue with Acoustic Neuroma is that people usually tend to miss or ignore its symptoms as it takes several years to grow and develop. Only when the tumors grow, you will be able to notice is symptoms. Its common symptoms are hearing loss, usually on one side, ringing sensation in the affected ear, loss of balance, dizziness, and numbness of muscles. Only in some cases, they will become very large and become life-threatening.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to consult a doctor. The most common treatments for Acoustic Neuroma vary from monitoring, radiation, or surgical removals. But if your symptoms have become severe, then Gamma Knife treatment might be the best treatment option for you. So, what is Gamma Knife Treatment?
What is Gamma knife Treatment?
Gamma Knife treatment is a non-invasive procedure that uses a concentrated dose of radiation beams and channels it to the area that is having a tumor. Found in 1967, this treatment is widely used to treat Acoustic Neuroma as they are accurate, and efficient and does not disturb or negatively affect health issues. Due to its precision, it ensures that the only affected part of the brain is exposed to the radiation. As this is a non-invasive procedure, it does give chances for infection or bleeding, and also its recovery period is minimal, making it the most convenient and safest option for patients who are suffering from Acoustic Neuroma.
How does a Gamma knife Treats Acoustic Neuroma?
In most cases Acoustic neuromas are non-cancerous. Only in certain cases, the tumor will start to show symptoms of cancer and the patient will have to undergo surgery and remove the tumor. But in other cases, you can treat it with radiation treatments like Gamma Knife. To treat Acoustic Neuroma, they use a gamma Knife to cut off the blood supply to kill the tumor.
Benefits of Gamma knife treatment for Acoustic Neuroma
It is found that game knife is capable of controlling tumor growth in about 92 percent of people. Using a gamma Knife has various benefits, including:
Extreme precision
Due to its extreme precision, it makes sure that the healthy tissue does not get affected by radiation.
No incision and side effects
This treatment will not result in any risk of bleeding or infection; hence they are very safe. The treatment will remove the issue of facial or muscle weakness and in most cases, you will not have to do follow-up surgery to restore all the functions.
One-time treatment:
Gamma Knife is a one-time treatment and patients rarely need repetition.
So, if you are having any symptoms of Acoustic Neuroma, consult a doctor and get the treatment done as soon as possible.