Gamma Knife

The names University of Southern California, USC University Hospital, the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Department of Radiation Oncology of the Keck School of Medicine are all synonymous with high-quality stereotactic radiosurgery and a long heritage of consummate research and development for the management of both benign and malignant brain lesions.

Important Milestones

• 1979: Stereotactic brachytherapy for malignant lesions of the brain using Iridium-192 radioactive seeds embedded in plastic afterloading ribbons.
• 1986: Linear accelerator (LINAC) based stereotactic radiosurgery with 4-MV photons at the USC/Kenneth Norris Jr. Comprehensive Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (first institution west of Boston to develop a concept through hardware and software research).
• 1994: Leksell Gamma Knife® installed at the USC University Hospital.
• 1995: Stereotactic radiosurgery of the spine.
• 1999: The first 1000th patient received stereotactic treatment at the USC.
• 2000: The most advanced Leksell Gamma Knife® Model C installed at the USC University Hospital.

The Keck School of Medicine continues to be a world leader in using innovative radiotherapy techniques such as 3-D treatment planning and conformal radiotherapy and computer networked, isodose calculation systems for all cancer disease sites.

The Stereotactic Radiosurgery Team

Since all Gamma Knife® devices are manufactured to approximately the same design specifications, the variations among the facilities themselves can only be characterized by the different teams and experiences of their physicians and medical physicists. The Keck School of Medicine is proud to present its stereotactic radiosurgery team, which has collaborated extensively since 1982.

Physicians

• Michael L.J. Apuzzo, M.D., the Edwin M. Todd/Trent H. Wells Jr. Professor of Neurological Surgery, and Director of the University Hospital Gamma Knife Unit
• Zbigniew Petrovich, M.D., Albert Soiland Professor, Professor and Chairman of Radiation Oncology, and Associate Director of the USC University Hospital Gamma Knife Unit
• Chi-Shing Zee, M.D., Professor of Radiology and Head, Division of Neuroradiology, USC Department of Radiology
• Steven L. Giannotta, M.D., Professor of Neurological Surgery
• Vladimir Zelman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology
• Abdolmajid Bayat, M.D., Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology
• Deirdre M. Cohen, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology

Medical Physicist

• Cheng Yu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology and USC University Hospital Gamma Knife Unit Physicist

Staff

• Dana MacPherson, R.N. is the Unit Coordinator.

For patient set-up and treatment on the Gamma Knife®, the neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, MRI radiologist, anesthesiologist and medical physicist will be present throughout the entire procedure.