Gamma Radiosurgery and Functional Neurosurgery
Pioneers in Spain with state-of-the-art precision technology
Welcome to the Gamma Radiosurgery and Functional Neurosurgery Unit at the Ruber Internacional Hospital!
We are pioneers in Spain (since 1993) in using the world’s most advanced brain radiosurgery system: the Gamma Knife. As specialists in the Gamma Radiosurgery and Functional Neurosurgery Unit, we have over 30 years of accumulated experience in the treatment with the Gamma Knife method. We have treated nearly 8,000 patients, joining the global count of one million people treated worldwide.
We are in the new era of radiosurgery, thanks to the Gamma Knife. This device allows us to treat brain lesions with precision and without the need for surgery. In a single session, and without anesthesia or hospital admission, we can provide you with effective treatment and let you resume your normal life that same day. With the Gamma Knife, we avoid traditional surgery in many cases and facilitate the treatment of complex tumors with the highest precision.
In our unit, we offer quick and personalized care. Our doctors are highly specialized, and our facilities are equipped with the latest technology for diagnosis and treatment. We are here to care for you and provide the best quality care.
Explore our website for more information about our services and medical team. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment, our team is at your service.
We are committed to providing you with the best care and treatment for your well-being and health.
Medical Team
- Team of Dr. Roberto Martínez ÁlvarezTeam Leader: Dr. Roberto Martínez ÁlvarezHospital Ruber InternacionalSpecialty: Gamma Radiosurgery Unit91 387 52 91
What is the Gamma Knife?
It is an external radiation therapy system used to treat brain tumors and lesions. It emits high-intensity gamma rays that target the tumor from different angles simultaneously, delivering a high dose of radiation to the exact point that requires treatment, thereby destroying the damaged cells. It is not a surgical procedure, as no incisions are made and no stitches are required.
How is the treatment with Gamma Knife ICON?
The specialist neurosurgeon marks the entire process with their team. Four points on the scalp are numbed with local anesthesia, and a frame is placed over the head, where four small anchors are fixed at the anesthetized points to keep the head steady. Through imaging, they then check the exact location, size, and shape of the tumor. With the latest generation of these devices, the Gamma Knife ICON available at the hospital, many cases only require a mask to ensure the patient's immobility. While the neurosurgeon and their team prepare the treatment on a computer, the patient rests in a separate room. The treatment is very comfortable and painless. The patient lies on a stretcher that slides into the radiation machine, where they receive the precise rays to the marked target. The most common outcome is for the patient to return home the same day.
Maximal precision surgery without incisions
The Gamma Knife technology was implemented at the Ruber Internacional Hospital, the first and only one in Spain, in 1993, and since then, we have been updating the system with the latest features. Currently, we treat with the latest generation model, the Gamma Knife ICON, the most accurate and precise system available. There are only 62 such devices in the world.
The great advantage of the Gamma Knife ICON is that it allows us to reach areas of the neck that were previously difficult to treat, and in cases of a larger lesion, we can perform the treatment in multiple sessions. This system is used for benign brain tumors with a control probability exceeding 90%, and in cases of brain metastases, it has enormous efficacy as the control percentage is 80%. We can also treat arteriovenous malformations, epilepsy issues, and psychiatric or eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, with encouraging results.
The system allows us to treat brain lesions without the need for surgical intervention and in a single session, which avoids the disruption of postoperative care or rehabilitation, allowing patients to immediately resume their normal lives.
For your treatment, we have expert doctors committed to your health. We accompany you from the very first moment until your discharge.
We are the medical specialists with the most experience in radiosurgery and functional treatments in Spain.
We are pioneers in the Gamma Knife method in our country.
We participate in multi-institutional projects, including with the International Gamma Knife Consortium led by the Pittsburgh Hospital.
Our unit is a reference center for the Swedish company Elekta
(where Gamma Knife equipment is manufactured) for the training of new specialists and the development of research projects.
We collaborate in teaching activities by offering courses and master's degrees, such as the International Master’s in Central Nervous System Radiosurgery Techniques at the Alfonso X el Sabio University.
We are currently collaborating in a study with two medical teams from Italy on the treatment of centrally-originating pain.
We have agreements with various social security services in different autonomous communities as a reference for radiosurgery treatments.
We strive for constant scientific updating and publish our work in journals, books, and present them at international conferences.
We stand out for being a united team, with our closeness in patient care and speed in procedures.
We offer you a second opinion
The high specialization and experience of our doctors make us a national and international reference unit. If you are looking for a second opinion from a prestigious professional, schedule an appointment through our website, and we will help you understand your pathology and each step of the treatment.
Coordination between the hospital's specialties
Your doctor will attend to you in an efficient, personalized, and continuous manner, always in contact with specialists from other units to provide you with comprehensive care.
- Medical Oncology Unit
- Radiotherapy Oncology Unit
- Neurosurgery Unit
- Neurology Unit
- Psychiatry Unit
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit
- Pain Unit
- Vertebral Pathology Unit
- Sarcoma Unit
- Epilepsy Surgery Unit
Gamma Radiosurgery is a non-surgical procedure that does not require incisions or general anesthesia, except in cases involving children. For some patients with metal braces, it is recommended to remove them in order to obtain high-quality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There are two treatment approaches depending on the characteristics of each case:
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Treatment with Stereotactic Frame in a single day
- A stereotactic frame is placed on the patient's head to obtain precise measurements.
- Tests such as MRI, CT, and/or arteriography are performed to locate the treatment target.
- After planning, the patient lies on a stretcher and receives the treatment, which typically lasts less than one hour.
- The patient can remain awake and comfortable during the procedure.
- Once completed, the frame is removed, and the patient can go home the same day.
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Treatment with Thermoplastic Mask in a single day or multiple days
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- A thermoplastic mask is custom-made for the patient and used during the treatment.
- Tests such as MRI, CT, and/or arteriography are performed.
- The patient then lies on a stretcher and receives one or multiple treatment sessions within the same week.
- Each session lasts approximately one hour or less.
- After each session, the patient can resume their regular activities.
In both approaches, the treatment is painless, and no uncomfortable sensations are felt due to the radiation. After the procedure, the patient can return to their daily life without significant complications.
We have medical staff specialized in your pathology to provide you with the highest level of care and achieve your well-being.
Benign Brain Pathology
- Meningiomas
- Schwannomas or neurinomas
- Neurofibromatosis
- Pituitary adenomas
- Paragangliomas
- Jugular glomus tumors or paragangliomas
- Craniopharyngiomas
- Papillomas of the plexuses
- Neurocytomas
- Angiofibromas
- Hemangiomas
Cerebral Vascular Pathology
- Arteriovenous malformations
- Arteriovenous fistulas
- Cavernomas
Functional Pathology
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
- Facial spasm
- Epilepsy
- Hypothalamic hamartomas
- Heterotopias and dysplasias
- Tremor
- Central origin pain
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Aggression
- Depression
Malignant Brain Pathology
- Metastasis
- Low-grade gliomas
- High-grade gliomas
- Cavum tumors
- Adenoid cystic carcinomas
- Cylindromas
- Chondrosarcoma
- Germinoma
- Medulloblastoma
- Pinealoma
- Pineocytoma
- Plasmacytoma
- DNET
- Sarcoma
- Malignant or atypical meningiomas