G A M M A K N I F E ® R A D I O S U R G E R Y

At the intersection

of innovation and medical insight,

patients find the new standard

for excellence in

neurosurgery.

The Miami Neuroscience Center is a new, state-of-the-art

facility designed to house the region’s premier Gamma Knife

surgery program. Led by Dr. Aizik Wolf, one of the world’s foremost

authorities on stereotactic radiosurgery, the Miami Neuroscience

team is internationally recognized for its groundbreaking work

in radiosurgery.

Considered the gold standard in neurosurgery, Gamma Knife

is a noninvasive method for treating a variety of neurological

disorders. Gamma Knife is not an actual knife but a sophisticated

system for delivering single, high-dose radiation to an intra-cranial

target. The system focuses multiple gamma rays on a minute

area with sub-millimeter accuracy, while sparing surrounding

tissue. The extreme precision of Gamma Knife makes it the

safest, most effective system for controlling tumors in the brain,

head and neck.

The Miami Neuroscience Center is widely regarded as one of

the most accomplished Gamma Knife programs in the country.

The center’s Gamma Knife team has performed more than

7,000 procedures since 1993, amassing an unparalleled level

of expertise. A results-oriented program with a compassionate

approach to patient care, the Miami Neuroscience Center offers

a unique combination of the latest technologies and the most

experienced hands to guide them.

A revolution in care

from one of the nation’s leading

Gamma Knife® programs

Miami Neuroscience Center

BEFORE

PituitaRy adENOMa

aFtER

BEFORE aFtER

aVM

BEFORE

aCOustiC NEuRiNOMa

aFtER

BEFORE aFtER

MultiPlE MEtastasEs

NONiNVasiVE

iNCREasEd aCCuRaCy

REduCEd sidE EFFECts

VERsatilE tREatMENt OPtiONs

RaPid RECOVERy

siNGlE sEssiON

MOst EstaBlisHEd MOdality

dEdiCatEd NEuROsuRGiCal tOOl

GaMMa KNiFE

CyBERKNiFE_

NOValis_

tRilOGy

RadiatiON tHERaPy

✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

“Because of its extensive use

and enormous amount of supportive data

generated, the Gamma Knife is still

considered the gold standard”

- The Journal of Neurosurgery

NONiNVasiVE Gamma Knife does not require general anesthesia, nor involve the risks associated with open surgery, such as hemorrhage, infection, CSF leaks or other morbidities.

iNCREasEd aCCuRaCy A dedicated neurosurgery tool that is accurate to 0.15 mm, Gamma Knife reaches deep-seated targets in the brain, cervical spine, head and neck.

REduCEd sidE EFFECts Gamma Knife does not cause cognitive deficits, hair loss, nausea, fatigue or other side effects associated with conventional radiation therapy.

VERsatilE tREatMENt OPtiONs Gamma Knife allows for different beam sizes in unlimited directions, providing the ability to reach multiple isocenters in a single session. No other modality offers this level of versatility.

RaPid RECOVERy Gamma Knife surgery is painless and takes only a few hours. Patients return home the same day and resume normal activities almost immediately.

siNGlE sEssiON Gamma Knife is the only noninvasive method that is always performed in a single session and does not require treatment planning prior to procedure day.

MOst EstaBlisHEd MOdality Gamma Knife has been clinically documented in more than 2,500 peer-reviewed papers and in every major neurosurgical journal.

dEdiCatEd NEuROsuRGiCal tOOl Gamma Knife is the only system designed specifically to treat the brain, head and neck.

Compared to other treatment modalities, Gamma Knife offers several key advantages:

Gamma Knife is the primary option for treating AVMs, vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, trigeminal neuralgia and brain metastases.

Specially designed for surgery of the brain and cervical spine,

the Leksell Gamma Knife surpasses all other modalities in terms

of safety and effectiveness. The system uses 192 intersecting

gamma rays of cobalt-60 radiation to selectively destroy brain

tumors and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and treat

neurological conditions, such as trigeminal neuralgia. The rays are

potent only at their intersection point, so there is no substantial

effect on normal tissue outside the target area. Accurate to

within 0.15 mm, the Gamma Knife’s extreme precision allows

accurate delivery of radiation to deep intra-cranial targets that

would be difficult or impossible to reach with other treatment

modalities.

Used in the United States since 1987, Gamma Knife

provides local control of tumors with a success rate that exceeds

90 percent. More than 500,000 patients have successfully

undergone Gamma Knife surgery since its inception. Gamma

Knife can be particularly useful for patients who are not suitable

for standard surgical techniques due to illness or advanced age.

Additionally, Gamma Knife surgery is an effective complement

to open surgery for recurrent and partially resected tumors,

to endovascular embolization for large AVMs and to radiation

therapy for malignant tumors. The procedure is virtually

painless, takes only a few hours and allows the patient to return

home the same day.

T H E P R O C E D U R E

Before treatment, the Gamma Knife team will discuss the procedure with you,

answer your questions and share details about what to expect. Gamma Knife

surgery does not require cutting or shaving of your hair, nor other intensive

physical preparations.

1 EstaBlisHiNG aCCuRaCy

On the day of your treatment, under mild sedation and local anesthetic, you will

be fitted with a lightweight stereotactic head frame. Attached by four pins, the

frame ensures precise pinpointing of the treatment areas and accurate targeting

of Gamma Knife radiation beams.

2 lOCaliZatiON OF taRGEts

With the frame in place, you will undergo advanced imaging studies-such

as MRI, CT scan or angiography-to precisely determine the size, shape and

location of the tumor or AVM, or to locate the trigeminal nerve. During imaging,

the team will place a coordinate box on the frame to provide reference points

on the images for the treatment plan.

3 tREatMENt PlaNNiNG

While you rest, the Gamma Knife team will develop your treatment plan using

the imaging results and state-of-the-art Gamma Knife 3-D planning software.

Your treatment will be completely individualized to address your specific medical

condition.

4 tREatMENt

To begin treatment, you will lie down on the Gamma Knife treatment table,

and your surgical team will attach the frame to the Gamma Knife Automatic

Positioning System. When the treatment begins, the table will move into

the dome section of the unit. Gamma Knife’s robotic Automatic Positioning

System automatically delivers multiple isocenters to precisely conform to the

tumor shape, providing complete coverage of the target. Throughout the

procedure, the neurosurgeon and nursing team will monitor your condition and

your comfort, and communicate with you via an audio-video connection. The

treatment is silent and pain free. It will last a few minutes to more than an hour,

depending on the size and shape of the target.

5 RECOVERy aNd REtuRN tO NORMal liFE

Once the treatment concludes, the Gamma Knife team will remove the frame.

Some patients may experience a mild headache or minor swelling at the pin

sites, but most report no discomfort. Most patients return home the same day

and resume normal activities the following day.

The effects of your treatment will occur over time. Radiation stops or slows the

growth of tumors, so the results will be seen over a period of weeks or months.

During this time, your Miami Neuroscience doctor will stay in contact to assess

your progress, which may include follow-up MRI, CT or angiography imaging.

Safe, pain free

and highly effective

the leksell Gamma Knife

123

4

The Miami Neuroscience Center has offered Gamma Knife

surgery for nearly 20 years. It is the nation’s only program to pair a

single neurosurgeon and physicist for that time period, providing

a degree of cohesiveness that no other center can match.

As one of the most experienced Gamma Knife teams in the

nation, Miami Neuroscience Center has led this field since the

inception of the program.

Miami Neuroscience Center is committed to a positive

patient experience that adheres to the highest ethical

standards. The center’s professionals are dedicated to helping

patients achieve the best possible outcomes for their individual

conditions. This means personalized care and accessibility to the

medical team throughout the process.

to substantially expand the use of radiosurgery

in the management of multiple metastases, a

revolutionary advance that changed the course of

radiosurgery.

to apply Gamma Knife surgery to the treatment

of larger-sized benign tumors, another ground-

breaking advance.

program in the United States to provide outpatient

Gamma Knife treatment.

Gamma Knife program in Florida.

neurosurgical programs providing outpatient

awake craniotomy procedures.

Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ program, and the

only team involved in the development of the most

state-of-the-art Gamma Knife system available.

the first

One of the first

the first

the first

One of the only

Florida’s first

the Miami Neuroscience Center team

The most experienced hands guiding

the most sophisticated technology

Dr. Wolf has performed more than 7,000 Gamma Knife

treatments, has authored more than 90 scientific publications

and travels worldwide to lecture on Gamma Knife and minimally

invasive neurosurgery.

Dr. Wolf was formerly the chief of epilepsy, Gamma Knife

and skull base surgery at the University of Maryland, as well

as an assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery. He

graduated cum laude from Yale Medical School and trained at

the University of Minnesota Hospitals. He completed his Gamma

Knife radiosurgery training with Dr. Christer Lindquist at Brown

University.

The most

experienced hands

guiding the

most sophisticated

technology.

aizik l. Wolf, Md Medical Director

sammie R. Coy, Phd Physicist

T H E T E A M

Dr. Coy is the chief physicist for the Miami Neuroscience

Center. He was formerly the chief physicist for the New England

Gamma Knife Center at Rhode Island Hospital. Dr. Coy received

his doctorate degree from Vanderbilt University. Due to his

extensive qualifications, he has been involved in the design and

development of Gamma Knife software. His experience and

exceptional background in computer sciences, mathematics

and physics play a vital role in the Miami Neuroscience Center’s

Gamma Knife treatment planning.

steven J. dePrima, Md

Neuroradiology & Neurointerventional Surgery

Dr. DePrima earned his medical degree from Emory University

School of Medicine in Atlanta. He completed fellowships in

neuroradiology and interventional neuroradiology at the University

of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, where he also

served as assistant professor of radiology in the section of

neuroradiology. Dr. DePrima is presently chief of neuroradiology

and neurointerventional surgery at the Miami Neuroscience

Center.

Located within the Larkin Community Hospital campus in South Miami, the Miami Neuroscience Center was custom- designed with patient comfort as a priority. The center features the most advanced imaging tools, including MRI and PET CT, as well as Gamma Knife® Perfexion™, the latest-generation Gamma Knife that sets a new standard for accuracy and efficacy.

larkin Community Hospital is a 146-bed general-surgical-psychiatric and teaching hospital that combines state-of-the-art facilities with the convenience of a community hospital. Serving the healthcare needs of the South Miami community for more than 40 years, Larkin Community Hospital maintains a strong tradition of personalized attention. As part of the hospital’s continuing pursuit of excellence, it is delighted to offer neurosurgical services from some of the nation’s leading professionals.

international Patients Each year patients travel from Latin America and the Caribbean to the Miami Neuroscience Center. Our longstanding relationships with international physicians, medical associations and hospitals makes the Miami Neuroscience Center the center of choice for international patients seeking the best neurosurgical care in the region. Our international representatives provide special services - coordination of appointments, assistance with travel, transportation and hotel accommodations.

To contact our international department, call: Tel 786.871.6820 Fax 786.871.6822

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6129 SW 70th St., South Miami, FL 33143Tel 786.871.6800 Fax 786.871.6801 Toll Free 855.524.2273

email: gammaknifeinfo@larkinhospital.comweb: miamineurosciencecenter.com

Miami Neuroscience Center