Northside Hospital Cancer Institute offers GammaTile for brain tumors

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute announced a collaboration between its neurosurgery and radiation oncology services that medical staff said offers new hope for patients diagnosed with brain tumors.

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute added GammaTile therapy to its Brain & CNS Tumor Program at its Atlanta and Forsyth campuses, according to a news release.

GammaTile is an advanced form of brachytherapy, a type of internal radiation treatment, designed for newly diagnosed and recurrent brain tumors. It is most commonly used for glioblastomas, brain metastases, and meningiomas. The treatment delivers localized radiation directly to the tumor site, minimizing the side effects typically associated with traditional radiation therapy.

GammaTile is implanted during surgery immediately after the tumor is removed, eliminating the need for additional radiation therapy sessions.

“GammaTile represents a significant advancement in the treatment of brain tumors,” Dr. Jim Robinson, medical director for the Brain & CNS Tumor Program, said in the release. “Brachytherapy allows us to deliver radiation from the inside out, making it safer to repeat radiation for patients with recurrent tumors.”

Approximately 94,000 people will be diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2024, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. Not all brain tumors are malignant. However, the diagnosis can be life altering and cause anxiety for patients and their families.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Isabella Zhang said in the releease that having both GammaTile and the Gamma Knife Icon gives medical staff a variety of options for patients, especially those who have previously received radiation.

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