Side Effects
Side effects from gamma knife treatment vary depending on the type, size, location and dose delivered. Most patients do not suffer from any significant side effects, and serious side effects are rare. Below are listed some of the possible side effects. They do not apply to all conditions.
Early side effects:
Common:
- Local pain at pin sites
- Headache
Rare:
- Skin reddening and irritation
- Nausea (Depending on the type and location of lesion)
- Seizure (Depending on the type and location of lesion)
- Numbness at the back of the head – usually resolving within a few weeks.
Delayed side effects:
Uncommon:
- Local loss of hair (only patients with superficial lesions)
- Local brain swelling at the treatment site. This can be treated with steroids and is usually well controlled.
Rare:
- Visual disturbance (Depending on the type and location of lesion)
- Deafness (Depending on the type and location of lesion)