Houston Methodist Neurosurgeon Removes Deep-Seated Thalamic and Brain Stem Cavernoma Through a Small Hole Successfully

Newswise — Neurosurgeons at Houston Methodist Hospital report the successful treatment of deep-seated thalamic and brain stem cavernous angiomas in an upcoming article in the Journal of Neurosurgery (online March 8).

The tumorous masses of small blood vessels in the deep-seated thalamic and brain stem regions of brain are typically difficult to reach without causing significant brain injury. Houston Methodist neurosurgeons use a minimally invasive approach that does not require cutting through the brain’s white matter, the tissue responsible for many cognitive and functional responses. Gavin Britz, M.D.,chairman of neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, explained in the journal article that he successfully removed deep-seated thalamic and brain stem cavernoma by using a 13-millimeter-wide portal—smaller in diameter than a dime—to reach them.

This procedure decreases operating time, risk to the patient and patient’s recovery time.

“We gently displaced the natural folds of the brain and white matter to permit access to those deep areas that traditionally requires cutting,” Britz said. “The minimally-invasive surgical tools allow us to ease through white matter like the hull of a ship displacing water, avoiding damage to the surrounding tissue and dramatically reducing the chance of losing brain function. When we remove the portal after excising the tumor, the brain tissue resumes its previous position.”

The locations of the cavernomas discussed in the Journal of Neurosurgery article made traditional approaches for removal extremely dangerous and highly likely to cause permanent brain damage.

For both patients, conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to pinpoint the position of the tumor and detail the surrounding anatomy. Two specialized MRIs were then incorporated to map brain activity and identify nearby fibers connecting the brain to organs.

Another advantage of using these surgical tools, Britz said, is that its small size enables the surgeon to remove less of the skull and dura (the thick, leather-like sac in which the brain rests) than traditional operations.

Houston Methodist’s Steve H. Fung, M.D. and Robert A. Scranton, M.D., also contributed to the Journal of Neurosurgery paper.

To speak with Gavin Britz, contact Katie Wooldridge, Houston Methodist, at 713.816.2215 or [email protected]. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit www.houstonmethodist.org Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.