Surgery for Spinal Schwannomas
Spinal Schwannomas Surgery in New York City
There are a number of surgical techniques, which may be used alone or in combination, for the treatment of schwannomas. Some schwannomas will require just one of these therapies and others will require a combination. Treatments include:
Microsurgery
This is a minimal access surgery requiring the use of ultrasound guidance and lasers. It is the surgical option used by neurosurgeons for schwannoma removal.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Without entering the back, neurological surgeons can use stereotactic radiosurgery (highly targeted radiation beams from multiple angles) to treat a schwannoma. This technique is highly effective and minimally invasive. Side effects are usually moderate and limited and the procedure carries a very low risk of infection or other complications that can occur after open surgery. This is a rapidly developing technique, requiring the most highly trained surgeons utilizing the most sophisticated equipment — such as the Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, proton beams, and linear accelerators — and is usually only available in major medical centers. (see Doctors Who Treat Spinal Schwannomas.)
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