This book is a brief review of the fundamentals of Gamma Knife Surgery, a branch of radiosurgery. The first part of the book provides historical and scientific background information on the subject. A middle section consisting of a single chapter describes the experience of Gamma Knife Surgery from the patient's point of view. The remainder of the book describes the application of the method to a variety of clinical indications. In this second, revised edition an extensive reference list is added as an appendix. In addition appendices are written to a number of the chapters to indicate newer knowledge. The book is a useful introductory text to the field of radiosurgery in general and of course to Gamma Knife users in particular. It is aimed at spreading knowledge amongst those who have patients who might be referred for such treatment. This field is of increasing international interest since it is used in America, Asia and Europe, and more than 50,000 patients have now been treated worldwide. '...This book is very well structured and is a good introduction to stereotaxy and ionising radiation as treatment for specific intracranial lesions.
It gives basic information necessary to understand the effect, indications and practical organization of a gamma knife intervention and makes it possible to respond to the patient's questions...is recommended for those who are performing or starting to perform radiosurgery, and for anyone who wishes to refer patients for such treatment.' - "European Radiology" '...This second edition includes some of the developments in the rapidly changing field of stereotactic radiosurgery ...serve as a very useful starting point ...' - "British Journal of Neurosurgery".