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The Division of Neurosurgery at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia gives patients outstanding care, using the latest technology to perform proven surgical and non-surgical treatments safely and effectively.

Chemotherapy

Endoscopy

Frameless stereotaxy

Microsurgery

Neuro-oncology

Radiosurgery

Stereotaxy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that help reduce the size of cancerous tumors.

Endoscopic surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery. Neurosurgeons use an endoscope (a skinny, tubular telescope-type of instrument connected to a tiny video camera) and small surgical instruments inserted through small incisions to remove pituitary tumors or bulging disc material.

Frameless stereotaxy is an image guidance tool used during surgery. Neurosurgeons use sophisticated computer technology and geometric principles to pinpoint the exact location of a tumor, arteriovenous malformation or other problem in the brain. Combining computer software with 3-D images of the brain on a computer monitor, a surgeon can see exactly where brain structures and his small operating instruments are. This technique has made operations safer for patients as well as ensuring more precise and complete removal of tumors. Patients do not need a frame or halo attached to their heads when neurosurgeons use this tool.

Microsurgery is a surgical technique for operating on tiny structures. This technique uses specialized, tiny precision instruments magnified by a microscope and sometimes equipped with cameras to show the operation on a monitor. Microsurgery helps neurosurgeons remove tumors intricately embedded in vital structures in the brain.

Radiosurgery, used in conjunction with stereotaxy, focuses a beam of intense radiation on a small area within the brain. This destroys diseased areas while minimizing the amount of damage to normal brain tissue nearby. Radiation can be used to treat a variety of conditions affecting the nervous system including benign and malignant tumors, arteriovenous malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. There are a variety of “brands” of radiosurgery including Gamma Knife, Cyberknife, Linac Scalpel and X-Knife. Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia uses the X-Knife™ linear accelerator-based radiosurgery system.

Stereotaxy is an image guidance tool used during surgery. Neurosurgeons use sophisticated computer technology and geometric principles to pinpoint the exact location of a tumor, arteriovenous malformation or other problem in the brain. Combining computer software with 3-D images of the brain on a computer monitor, a surgeon can see exactly where brain structures and his small operating instruments are. This technique has made operations safer for patients as well as ensuring more precise and complete removal of tumors. A frame or halo is usually attached to patients’ heads to keep them steady during surgery, however, our surgeons may use frameless stereotaxy when appropriate.