Radiosurgery Center
Swedish Radiosurgery Center is the only facility in the Pacific Northwest to offer CyberKnife and Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Both treatment options use high-dose radiation beams to treat cancerous and noncancerous tumors. You’ll have personalized care in a beautiful spa-like setting to ensure the optimal outcome.
- CyberKnife can be used to treat tumors in all parts of the body, including the brain, breast, head and neck, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, pelvis, prostate, spine and other parts of the body.
- Gamma Knife is specifically used to treat cancer of the brain, and the head and neck, and may also be used to treat neurological conditions, such as arteriovenous malformations, essential tremor and trigeminal neuralgia.
Our experienced radiosurgery team can identify the most appropriate treatment to achieve the best results. Benefits of these advanced radiosurgery technologies include:
- Noninvasive outpatient treatment
- Preserves healthy tissue surrounding the target area
- Short courses of treatment ranging from a single visit to a maximum of 10 days
- Exceptional clinical outcomes with minimal side effects
We use CyberKnife and Gamma Knife radiosurgery to treat conditions including:
- Arteriovenous malformations (a tangle of arteries and veins)
- Brain tumors
- Breast cancer
- Essential tremor (most common movement disorder)
- Head and neck cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreas cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Spine conditions
- Spine tumors
- Trigeminal neuralgia (facial nerve pain)
You’ll receive personalized treatment tailored to your condition to ensure the best outcome. Your treatment options may include open or minimally invasive surgery, radiosurgery and chemotherapy, separate or in combination, depending on your condition.
Surgical options include traditional open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Both types require general anesthesia. Open surgery requires a longer incision, longer hospital stays and longer recovery. Minimally invasive surgery uses several smaller incisions, tiny surgical tools and a camera that allows the surgeon to see the surgical area. Minimally invasive surgeries offer shorter hospital stays, less pain and faster recovery. Some surgeries are same-day outpatient procedures allowing you to go home afterward.
Radiosurgery, or stereotactic radiosurgery, using CyberKnife or Gamma Knife, requires no incision, anesthesia or hospital stay. It’s a radiation treatment option for benign or cancerous tumors including those affecting the brain, breast and prostate. It’s also an option for neurological disorders, such as arteriovenous malformations, trigeminal neuralgia and tremor.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells. You may have chemotherapy intravenously (IV), by injection or in pill form. The type and dose of the drugs determine the side effects. These may include fatigue, hair loss, nausea, diarrhea and neuropathy – painful tingling in fingers or toes. You may have chemo alone or combined with surgery and radiation.
We are happy to help you with your insurance for radiosurgery – call 206-320-7127.
- Coverage verification and pre-authorization – Once you and your provider decide on CyberKnife or Gamma Knife radiosurgery, our financial counselor will verify your benefits with your insurance company. If your insurance plan requires a pre-authorization, we will request one.
- Coverage does not guarantee payment – Verified coverage and pre-authorization give you permission to have treatment but does not guarantee your insurance company will pay for treatment. You must sign a waiver accepting financial responsibility if your insurance company denies payment. Before having treatment, call your insurance plan administrator to learn what they will pay and what you have to pay.
- Right to appeal coverage denial – Once we have pre-authorization, we will proceed with your treatment plan. If your insurance denies authorization again, you have the right to appeal the decision. We will help you appeal by providing detailed information regarding your medical condition and the radiosurgery treatment you and your doctor have chosen.
Awards and Recognition
