What does radiosurgery mean?

Radiosurgery is a form of radiation therapy where a high dose is applied on the predetermined target with pinpoint precision in a single session in order to destroy it. Experts call it single-shot radiation (single-exposure radiation). The biological effect of a high single-dose is significantly stronger in comparison to the conventional radiation therapy, which is divided into many single doses (fractionated). This is why the former method offers the highest accuracy.

The research and development of this highly precise method of radiation was carried out in 1968 by the Swedish neurosurgeon Lars Leksell and the physicist Börge Larsson. They christened their discovery "Gamma Knife", as the effect is akin to surgery with a scalpel.