Description: 

There is limited information regarding best practices and outcomes using fractionated frameless Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Physicians and other learners seek to improve their competence, knowledge, and skills to evaluate, assess, diagnose and determine whether or not Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery is the optimal choice for a patient presented with signs and/or symptoms of brain tumors, functional disorders and vascular malformations. Interdisplinary team members need to know the risks versus benefits associated with fractionated gamma knife treatment, frame-based treatment and frameless treatment. As new research becomes available, physicians and other learners need to continue to update their understanding on the risks versus benefits associated with fractionated gamma knife treatment, frame-based treatment and frameless treatment. Frequent review of Gamma Knife peer reviewed literature, patient outcomes, and manufacturer guidelines are necessary. Due to ongoing research regarding best practice for brain tumors, functional disorders, AVMs and delivering quality care, inter-professional collaboration allows for identification of appropriate treatment options, based on current neurological deficits that will yield best quality of life benefits for patients. Through regular scheduled case conference, the inter-professional team will gain a broader knowledge of Gamma Knife's risks and benefits in terms of treatment type, treatment plan, dosage, outcome, recurrence(s) of disease, new indications, potential appropriate gamma knife candidates, treatment type, radiosurgery dosages and indications for fractionation which will ultimately minimize potential complications.

Target Audience: 

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Nurse, Registered (RN)

Physicians (MD or DO)

Physician Assistant (PA)

Other Healthcare Professionals

Learning Objectives

After Attending this Activity, Learners Should be Able to:

1. Evaluate Gamma Knife candidates with collaboration from the interprofessional team, weighing risks and benefits and other key considerations, to appropriately determine individualized treatment plans.

2. Consider any relevant social drivers of health in the application of recommendations and treatment strategies developed via this inter-professional forum.

3. Discuss ongoing strategies to ensure that the goal of 100% of MRI images are Gamma Knife ready before reaching conference is met.

Assembly Bills 1195 & 241- Culturally Appropriate Care which is Free of Implicit Biases:

Learners are strongly encouraged to engage in self-directed learning related to the impact of implicit biases in this clinical area via the references provided below:

• Diaz, D. A., Suneja, G., Jagsi, R., Barry, P., Thomas, C. R., Jr, Deville, C., Jr, Winkfield, K., Siker, M., & Bott-Kothari, T. (2021). Mitigating Implicit Bias in Radiation Oncology. Advances in radiation oncology, 6(5), 100738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adro.2021.100738
• Porter AB, Chukwueke UN, Mammoser AG, Friday B, Hervey-Jumper S. Delivering Equitable Care to Underserved Neuro-oncology Populations. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2021 Mar;41:1-9. doi: 10.1200/EDBK_320803. PMID: 33830829
• Desai, A. D., Shah, V. P., Tseng, C. C., Povolotskiy, R., Wackym, P. A., & Ying, Y. M. (2022). Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Vestibular Schwannoma. The Laryngoscope, 132(11), 2232–2240. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.30016

Disclosure of Financial or In-Kind Commercial Support & Conflict of Interest

No one involved in the planning or presentation of this educational activity have any relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. No financial or in-kind commercial support was received to produce or promote this educational activity.   

– Provider Designee/Verification:  Kerri Maya, PhD(c), MSL, RN, NPD-BC