RESUMO
To introduce a novel treatment modality in neurosurgery practice in Kuwait and report our preliminary experience with this technique. Prospective study. Ibn Sina hospital, Kuwait. Fifty-seven patients who underwent radiosurgery in the first year of operation in our center. There were 32 [56%] male and 25 [44%] female patients with their age ranging from 12 to 76 years. Thirty five [61.5%] patients presented with benign tumors, 12 [21%] with malignant tumors [high grade gliomas, metastases], 8 patients [14%] with vascular malformations and two [3.5%] with functional disorders [trigeminal neuralgia]. Thirty one [57.2%] patients underwent radiosurgery for their residual lesions after attempted surgical excisions or other procedures. Gamma knife radiosurgery. Outcome of surgery and complications. The mean follow-up period was 9.7 months [range 3- 20 months]. The follow-up was achieved in 54 [95%] patients while three were lost to follow-up. Post-radiosurgery imaging demonstrated decrease in lesion size in 24 patients, no change in 27 and increase in three patients. These three patients were managed with surgery. Patients with trigeminal neuralgia were pain-free without any medications within three months of Gamma knife. Complications were observed in five [9.3%] patients, which were transient and improved after conservative treatment. No mortality was experienced in our patients, related to the procedure. Gamma knife radiosurgery is a safe and an effective treatment alternative to conventional neurosurgery in selected patients with brain disorders