Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Winter 2016

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8 ARCHBOLD MEDICAL CENTER
EARLIER THIS FALL, Archbold began installation of its
new Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM, technology that has been referred
to as the “gold standard” treatment for noninvasive radiosurgery
of the brain. On Oct. 5, physicians treated the first patients using
the brand-new technology—the latest and most precise radiosur-
gery technology to hit the market, and the only one if its kind in
South Georgia and North Florida’s Big Bend Region.
And Archbold physicians say the advantages of the new
equipment were clear when they treated patients the first time
with the PerfexionTM technology.
Imogene McCue was one of the first patients treated with
the PerfexionTM.
“I was having problems seeing when I went for the vision
test to have my driver’s license renewed,” Imogene said. “I
followed up with my ophthalmologist, who referred me for
an MRI. That’s when I was referred to neurosurgeon Dr. Craig
Fredericks, who recommended the Gamma Knife®.”
“We determined Ms. McCue had a suprasellar cistern menin-
gioma, a benign tumor that was inoperable due to both loca-
tion and patient age,” Dr. Fredericks said.
External radiation was really her only option. And considering
where her tumor was, PerfexionTM was the best option.
Pinpoint precision
Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM is used to treat disorders of the brain,
including functional disorders, malignant and benign brain
Archbold treatsfirst
patientswithnew
PerfexionTM
tumors, and vascular disorders. The system precisely targets
even the smallest tumors, in the hardest to reach places, with
submillimeter precision. Each beam has a relatively low energy,
so the radiation has virtually no effect on the healthy brain tis-
sue it passes through. At the focal point, however, all the beams
converge to deliver a high dose of radiation that kills the cancer
cells, even in deep-seated tumors with irregular shapes.
“In Ms. McCue’s case, the machine’s submillimeter precision
was the best option because it could protect critical visual
structures for the patient,” said Archbold radiation oncologist
Steve Johnson, MD. “It was the best treatment for Ms. McCue
because of its precision and very low integral dose, which was
very important, considering where her tumor was and that it was
so close to the optic nerve.”
Imogene’s treatment lasted only about 30 minutes, com-
pared to the same treatment with the former machine which
would have lasted an hour and a half.
“With the former technology, we would have stopped
treatment to reposition the patient several times. But with
PerfexionTM, all adjustments are made inside the machine,
which streamlined the treatment time tremendously. The
patient simply sat on the treatment couch and rotated into
position with one easy move. The flexibility and breadth of
options for altering the treatment beams are incredible and
proved to be very fast. The PerfexionTM helps us do what we’ve
done for years, but better and faster.”
Perfect outcomes
As for the patient, PerfexionTM was very comfortable for her, and
she is already enjoying the results.
“At my age, I probably wouldn’t have considered invasive
surgery to help with my vision because of the risks and long
recovery that would have been involved,” Imogene said. “But
the Gamma Knife® procedure was very quick and involved very
little pain. I came home after surgery and celebrated with a
steak dinner. I felt great the next day. I understand that it takes
some time, but it’s only been a few days, and I can tell my
vision continues to improve every day.”
The staff and physicians at the Oncology Center were won-
derful,” she said. “They went out of their way to make sure I was
comfortable and well-informed. We’re really so fortunate to
have the wonderful doctors and this amazing technology right
here in Thomasville.”
“The flexibility and breadth of options
for altering the treatment beams are
incredible and proved to be very fast....
The PerfexionTM does it better and faster.”
— Steve Johnson, MD