Piedmont enhances precision care for a range of brain conditions with gamma knife radiosurgery

Atlanta, Ga. (July 13, 2026) – Physicians at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital are offering patients a highly targeted, non-invasive treatment option for a range of conditions using advanced Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta physicians and anesthesiologists and Piedmont Oncology radiation oncologists also work together to care for pediatric patients with this device at Piedmont Atlanta, which has one of the few Elekta Esprit Gamma Knife radiosurgery devices in Georgia.

Physician members of both Piedmont Oncology and Piedmont Neurosciences employ the Gamma Knife radiosurgery technology, which is a sophisticated form of radiation therapy that uses multiple focused beams to treat tumors and other abnormalities in the brain. Unlike traditional surgery, the treatment does not require incisions, general anesthesia, or extended recovery time, allowing most patients to return home the same day and to quickly resume normal activities.

The technology is used to treat patients with both malignant or non-malignant conditions, including brain metastases, schwannoma, trigeminal neuralgia, arteriovenous malformations, and other neurological disorders. Because it is non-invasive, the risk of complications such as bleeding or infection is eliminated, and side effects are typically mild or temporary.

At Piedmont, clinicians are leveraging the technology’s ability to deliver radiation with exceptional accuracy, targeting even the smallest or most difficult-to-reach areas of the brain while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. The system uses 192 low-intensity radiation beams that converge precisely at the treatment site, minimizing exposure elsewhere in the brain and body.

“Gamma Knife radiosurgery represents a significant advancement in how we treat complex brain conditions,” said Wally Curran, M.D., Whitaker Endowed Chief of Piedmont Oncology. “Its precision allows us to effectively treat tumors and other disorders while protecting what matters most—our patients’ cognitive function and quality of life.”

Said Nelson Oyesiku, M.D., Chief of Piedmont Neurosciences: “By combining cutting-edge tools with clinical expertise, Piedmont’s physicians aim to expand treatment options and improve outcomes for patients facing some of the most challenging neurological conditions.”

"For more than 25 years, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital have provided children with access to Gamma Knife radiosurgery through a truly unique collaboration,” said Andrew Reisner, M.D., Pediatric Neurosurgeon and Elaine and John A. Carlos Chair for Neurotrauma at Children's. “Gamma Knife is reserved for highly selected pediatric patients, typically when conventional surgery or other treatment options are not feasible, such as children with deep-seated or inoperable arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), cavernous malformations, and other complex brain lesions. By delivering highly focused radiation while minimizing exposure to the surrounding developing brain, Gamma Knife offers particular advantages for children. We are grateful to Piedmont for their longstanding commitment to this program, which has become one of the largest and most experienced pediatric Gamma Knife collaborations in the nation."

In addition to its clinical effectiveness, the Gamma Knife experience is designed with patient comfort in mind. Treatment is quiet and painless, and patients remain awake throughout the procedure, often listening to music or resting during the session. Advanced imaging and planning software enable physicians to tailor each treatment with submillimeter precision.