Neuroendoport surgery facilitates removal of hard-to-reach brain tumors

Primary brain tissue tumors afflict approximately 20,000 Americans per year, and well over 100,000 per year suffer from metastases of other cancers to the brain. These tumors can cause death, disability, and neurological dysfunction. Multi-modal therapy for such tumors includes surgical removal, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, for most of these tumors, surgical removal is the most expedient way to facilitate neurological recovery. Surgical removal of any brain tumor is a challenging enterprise, as the neurosurgeon must minimize manipulation and/or trauma to the surrounding functional brain as much as possible, while maximizing removal of the abnormal tissue itself. Modern techniques such as imageguidance, neurophysiological monitoring, and even awake craniotomy all have demonstrated benefit, but the trauma suffered by brain tissue as a result of the trans-cortical channel taken into the tumor remains problematic. In addition, brain tumors can exert significant regional pressure upon the normal tissue surrounding them. Standard opening of the lining of the brain can induce brain herniation and significant cortical injury in this setting. In addition, standard dissection instruments through the white matter can induce significant neural trauma just to expose a tumor. The deeper a tumor is located, the more dissection is required in order to facilitate visualization using the funneling cone of light of an operating microscope.