Patient Care

The Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ is an effective, non-invasive alternative to traditional brain surgery. This highly sophisticated technology directs precisely focused radiation to specific targets in the brain. Typically performed in a single outpatient treatment session without general anesthesia, the Gamma Knife helps patients avoid incision, scarring, and long hospital stays while minimizing surgical complications. For many conditions, Gamma Knife Perfexion treatment is the most accurate form of stereotactic radiosurgery available. 192 beams of Cobalt 60 radiation are delivered through the intact skull to a small and critically located intracranial volume, to arrest or alter tissue growth.

The Gamma Knife, which contains no blade and makes no incision, is exclusively designed for the treatment of malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. As a non-invasive treatment for individuals with well-defined patient profiles, Gamma Knife surgery offers a low-risk, safe and cost-effective alternative.

The Gamma Knife Perfexion combines data from three-dimensional computer imaging studies with a stereotactic head frame to precisely focus radiation. It can destroy, arrest or reduce tumors, cause lesions to deteriorate, close arteriovenous malformations, and alter the conducting pain fibers in cases of trigeminal neuralgia.

At the time of treatment, the patient is fitted with a stereotactic head frame, which serves as a measuring guide and helps keep the head in a fixed position to assure maximum treatment accuracy. The frame’s external axis is used to determine coordinates for targeting the abnormality.

After the frame is attached, the patient receives an MRI, CT, or angiographic scan. Data from the imaging study is transferred into the state-of-the-art treatment planning computer, which enables the treatment team (a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, radiation physicist and technicians) to tailor radiation dose distribution to conform specifically to the lesion volume. Completing the treatment plan takes one to two hours, depending on the complexity and location of the disease.

When the treatment plan is completed, the patient is placed on the Gamma Knife couch and precisely positioned. Next, the patient is introduced headfirst into the Gamma Knife, and the procedure begins. The patient is treated with 192 sources of Cobalt 60 housed in the Gamma Knife. The 192 single doses of gamma rays converge at the target area and deliver a dose that is high enough to destroy the diseased tissue without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. This precisely focused radiation targets the lesion, sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.

USC Gamma Knife Team

Our Gamma Knife team at Keck Hospital of USC and the Keck School of Medicine of USC includes neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation therapists and nurses. Our multidisciplinary team evaluates each patient to determine whether Gamma Knife treatment is the best option. The patient’s medical history is reviewed, along with imaging studies and information provided by the patient’s physician. If Gamma Knife treatment is not considered appropriate, the team will suggest an alternate treatment option.

Gamma Knife treatment offers the following advantages:

• Non-invasive procedure.
• Delivered in a single treatment session.
• Precise mechanical accuracy of .3mm.
• Decreased risk: avoids risks and complications of traditional surgery.
• Minimal hospital stay: usually performed in an outpatient treatment session; patient can resume normal activities within days of procedure.
• Cost-effective: Reduced costs due to post-surgical complications; no expenses for disability and convalescence.
• Reimbursement by most insurance payors.

The Gamma Knife Perfexion System:

• Has new radiation shielding levels that are up to 100 times better than alternative technologies on the market.
• Provides unlimited reach to areas in the brain, and with future fixation devices, can reach into the cervical spine area.
• Being fully automated makes the treatment process more user friendly and efficient for both the treating physicians and patients.
• Includes added features to increase patient comfort while still providing the most accurate stereotactic radiosurgical procedures for the brain.

In 3D conformal radiotherapy, the radiation oncologist shapes and precisely delivers high-energy x-ray beams to the disease site while optimally protecting normal tissues. 3D conformal radiotherapy uses high-speed computers to extract the CT/MRI data, perform three-dimensional isodose calculations, and overlay the data for the radiation oncologist’s and medical physicist’s analysis. This technique allows more accurate and conformal treatment planning so that there is adequate coverage of the tumor with minimal toxicity to the adjacent healthy tissues.

Brachytherapy is the practice of placing radioactive material inside the body for the purpose of killing cancer cells. In low-dose rate brachytherapy, the radioactive material remains in the patient’s body and delivers radiation to the tumor over several days.

High-dose rate brachytherapy delivers a stronger dose of radiation, during one or more individual treatment sessions. The source of radiation is removed from the patient after each session.

Intracavitary brachytherapy

Intracavitary brachytherapy is commonly used to treat patients with cervical and uterine cancers by placing a radioactive source (such as cesium-137 or iridium-192) in a surgical or body cavity, near the area that requires treatment. This option delivers high doses of radiation to the tumor while having minimal impact on the surrounding healthy tissue.

Interstitial brachytherapy

Interstitial brachytherapy is the surgical implantation of radioactive needles or seeds directly into a tumor. It is widely used to treat cancers of the breast and prostate. The radioactive source may remain in the body permanently, even after all of the radiation has been given off.

While less than one-third of all radiation therapy facilities in the United States perform clinical brachytherapy, radiation oncologists at USC have been leaders in developing innovative clinical brachytherapy techniques since the 1970’s. In 2012, through the joint efforts of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck Hospital of USC, Los Angeles General Medical Center and Doheny Eye Hospital, special brachytherapy programs are being utilized for managing the most difficult, persistent and recurrent cancers.

Bladder

Brain Tumors

Colorectal

Esophagus

Gynecological

Head & Neck

Lung Radiotherapy

Lymphoma

Ocular Melanoma

Pediatric Caner

Prostate

Sarcoma

Skin

Spine Tumors

Our USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center oncology experts work together as a team to deliver patient-centered cancer care. Our renowned doctors and specialists use the latest cancer detection, prevention and treatment options to help you get the care you need each step of your cancer journey.

As an original National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center, we’re a well-established leader in cancer research. This means we’ll always be in front of the next big thing in oncology care. Through our research, we bring you the most advanced therapies available and aim to make cancer a disease of the past.

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital delivers exceptional, personalized care in 14 key areas of cancer treatment: breast cancer, cancerous brain tumors, gastrointestinal cancer, genetic counseling, gynecologic cancers, head and neck cancers, hematology, lung cancer, melanoma, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, sarcoma, skin cancer and urologic oncology. Our 60-bed hospital is an integral part of our academic medical center.

Using a multidisciplinary team approach, the world-renowned physicians and scientists of USC Norris treat and prevent cancer by developing new therapies, enhancing existing treatments and providing personalized, precision care that is the most advanced available.

Our Location

Los Angeles- Norris Radiation Oncology

1441 Eastlake Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90033

Monday-Friday

8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

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Parking Information

The physicians and staff of Keck Medicine of USC offer residents in the Santa Clarita Valley comprehensive, innovative care and surgical services for colorectal conditions and diseases, urology, breast cancer and breast health, as well as radiation oncology services. Our clinics are located adjacent to the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital campus.

This state-of-the-art facility is designed to support technologically advanced and patient-centered radiation oncology treatment, serving those who live or work in the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding areas. Our approach integrates the latest scientific innovations in the detection and treatment of cancer, offering the most advanced radiation treatment modalities on-site.

Our Location

Santa Clarita – Radiation Oncology

25751 McBean Parkway, Suite 110

Monday – Friday

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

(661) 839-1810

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Our Newport Beach Clinic will be opening up in February of 2025. We look forward to the opportunity to serve the Newport Beach and surrounding area community very soon!

Our Location

USC Newport Beach Clinic

330 Old Newport Blvd Newport Beach, CA 92663

Monday – Friday

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Parking Information

Free parking is available.

Licensed under USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital

The Pasadena Radiation Oncology Clinic is expected to open in Q4 of 2025. We look forward to serving the Pasadena and surrounding communities in the near future.

Our Location 

Pasadena Radiation Oncology Clinic

625 S. Fair Oaks Ave. Los Angeles, CA 91105

Monday – Friday

8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Parking Information

A parking structure is located on the premises. Our multidisciplinary location and USC Roski Eye Institute offer a partial validation. Parking is $1.50 every 15 min, up to a $12 per day maximum. The daily maximum with validation is $9 per day.Licensed by Keck Hospital of USC and USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital