New Approaches and Advanced Technologies in Neurosurgery

is a rare type of brain tumor and is typically very slow growing. While craniopharyngiomas are not aggressive, their treatment can be difficult, and significant morbidities are associated with both the tumor and the treatment. Our treatment team will usually surgically remove the tumor and follow that procedure with radiotherapy treatment.

are caused by the spread of cancer cells from one or more tumor elsewhere in the body. Tumors that tend to spread to the brain include skin cancer (melanoma), breast cancer, and lung cancer. The treatment of these metastatic tumors includes surgical removal, radiosurgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Benign brain tumors do not spread and typically do not endanger the patient’s life. However, even benign tumors can cause severe symptoms by causing pressure on the brain and/or spinal cord.

is typically a slow-growing tumor that arises from the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Doctors often decide to treat meningiomas surgically to remove as much of the tumor as safely possible. The treatment team will use radiotherapy if there is a residual tumor or a recurrence after surgery.

is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. Although adenomas are benign, these tumors have the potential to cause serious health complications by compressing other structures, like the optic chiasm, and by uncontrolled hormone production.

is another benign tumor. These tumors develop on the hearing and balance nerves near the inner ear. Surgical removal and radiotherapy are treatment options depending on the tumor stage at diagnosis.

originates in the cells of blood vessels. Although it is a benign tumor, hemangioblastoma growth usually results in a large cyst in the brain, but total tumor removal can result in complete resolution of the problem.

is a benign cyst that develops in the anterior, or front, aspect of the third brain ventricle. Because of its location, a colloid cyst can cause obstructive hydrocephalus (cerebrospinal fluid buildup in the brain) and increased intracranial pressure. The expert surgeons at Sheba can now remove colloid cysts using minimally invasive neuroendoscopic surgery.

differ from those in adults in terms of appearance, tumor types, treatment and response to treatment. The most common locations for tumors in children are the cerebellum, the pineal gland region, and the hypothalamus region near the optic nerves. Symptoms of pediatric brain tumors are often slow to appear and may be misleading.

are slow-growing benign tumors made up of skin cells and skin follicles. Sometimes these abnormalities are found only in the skull, but they can also appear in central areas of the brain. Complete surgical removal of these structures leads to a comprehensive cure of the condition without the need for additional treatments.

• Medulloblastoma – representing about 20% of pediatric brain tumors
• Pilocytic Astrocytoma – a benign glioma
• Ependymoma – comprises about 10% of pediatric brain tumors
• Germ cell tumors – usually treated with chemotherapy, but sometimes surgery is required