BY TIM BONFIELD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Good news for Tristate residents fighting brain tumors: Two Ohio universities are spending millions to expand their high-tech radiation treatments.
Within six months, the University of Cincinnati plans to install an "X-knife" system to treat brain tumors. Early next year, Ohio State University plans to offer similar "gamma knife" equipment. Both devices are used to perform stereotactic radiosurgery -- a method of zapping brain tumors with highly focused, high-dose beams of radiation. The technique is one of few available for treating tumors located too deep for traditional surgery.
"This is good news for patients because this is the future of radiosurgery," said Dr. Ronald Warnick, director of neuro-oncology at the UC Medical Center.
"In the realm of stereotactic radiosurgery, both the (linear accelerator) and the gamma knife have their advantages, so soon we will be able to offer both cutting-edge options to benefit our patients," said Dr. Joseph Goodman, a neurosurgeon at Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital.
Experts debate which type of equipment -- made by competing manufacturers -- is best for brain tumors. Both systems represent the latest in radiosurgery.
The gamma knife at OSU would be the first in central or southern Ohio. UC's X-knife would be the ninth nationwide dedicated exclusively to stereotactic radiosurgery.
The differences
The devices work in different ways. The X-knife uses computer-guided X-rays generated by a linear accelerator. The gamma knife uses computer-guided gamma rays produced by cobalt-60, a type of radioactive material.
The gamma knife costs about $3.5 million, with much of the cost picked up by private investors. The X-knife costs about $2 million, but usually must be purchased directly by the hospital.
Until recently, the gamma knife could focus smaller beams of radiation -- which meant less chance of damage to healthy brain tissue. But the device is limited to use in brain tumors.
UC picked the X-knife because it has recently been improved to match the gamma knife's focusing ability. Also, the X-knife can be used to treat tumors outside the skull, deliver different "shapes" of radiation exposure, and deliver smaller, repeated doses, Dr. Warnick said.
"We looked at both systems very carefully and decided to go with the X-knife because we see a future developing for stereotactic radiosurgery outside the brain," Dr. Warnick said.
