Gamma Knife vs Linac

tonyjeffs · Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 1 Location: liverpool

I understand the basic principals of gamma knife radiosurgery; 201 beams of radiation target the tumour from different angles. Where they individually pass through healthy tissue, they are mild enough to cause a minimum of damage, but where they meet up at the tumour, their combined energy is enough to kill it.

Linac achieves a similar result, but uses beams of electrons rather than gamma rays.

How can Linac be as effective in preserving healthy tissue since it uses just 9 beams as opposed to 201?

Thanks

Tony

ps Hi I'm new! Good to meet you. Is there a way to search these forums in case a question has been asked alredy? To.