Gamma knife pallidotomy: Case report

We report a case of gamma knife pallidotomy resulting in a permanent contralateral homonymous hemianopsia and transient contralateral hemiparesis with some improvement in contralateral parkinsonian symptoms. This case illustrates the risk of gamma knife pallidotomy which precludes physiologic target localization and can subject structures surrounding the target to a significant radiosurgical dose. Until noninvasive physiologic target localization is available gamma knife pallidotomy and thalamotomy should be limited to patients with an unacceptably high risk for stereotactic percutaneous thermocoagulation.