Types of Brain Tumor Surgery

• Craniotomy is the most preferred type of surgery to remove a brain tumor. Craniotomy is an operation in which a small hole is made in the skull or a piece of bone from the skull is removed to show part of the brain. A craniotomy may be done to remove a brain tumor or a sample of brain tissue. It may also be done to remove blood or blood clots from the brain, relieve pressure in the brain after an injury or stroke, repair a skull fracture or brain aneurysm (a bulge in a blood vessel wall), or treat other brain conditions. The piece of bone that is removed from the skull is usually put back in place after the surgery has been done.
• MRI-Guided Laser Ablation - is a minimally invasive neurosurgical technology for brain tumors. The procedure can reduce certain surgical risks associated with traditional open brain tumor surgery, as well as reduce pain and recovery time. More importantly, MRI-guided laser ablation can help surgeons treat more complex tumors such as glioblastoma, a dangerously aggressive brain tumor that recurs frequently and can be life-threatening. The procedure can make it easier for neurosurgeons to access certain tumors that are close to sensitive structures in the brain or deep in the skull, where it would be difficult to reach with a traditional open craniotomy.
• Endoscopic Brain Tumor Surgery (Neuroendoscopy) - A neuroendoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a neurosurgeon removes the tumor through small (dime-sized) holes in the skull or through the mouth or nose. Surgery performed through the nose is called Endonasal Endoscopic Surgery. This approach allows the surgeon to access areas of the brain that traditional surgery cannot access and remove the tumor without cutting or damaging other parts of the skull.