Cranial Surgery
Cranial surgery includes surgery for tumors, vascular abnormalities (aneurysms, ateriovenous malformations, etc), blood clots, seizures, hydrocephalus, and Deep Brain Stimulation for neurologic diseases. Neurosurgeons work with other specialists in and outside of the operating room to get the best results possible. We often use minimally invasive or noninvasive techniques. Image guided, computer assisted and endoscopic surgery is also done in the brain.
Brain Tumors
Brain tumors include benign and more aggressive tumors, both of which often need surgical treatment or biopsy for diagnosis. Surgery for brain tumors ranges from minimally invasive biopsies or non-invasive radiosurgery, to more standard open surgical approaches. Some tumors require more than one modality for diagnosis and treatment.
Surgery for brain tumors is often done for resection or removal of accessible lesions. Modern techniques such as image-guided surgery, contact lasers and endoscopes have made the treatment of these tumors easier on the patient. Many types of brain tumors can be addressed surgically, including meningiomas, schwannomas, gliomas, metastatic tumors, pituitary adenomas, and others. Our surgeons have published on the surgical treatment of meningiomas and has taught courses on resection of these tumors at the cranial base.
Open surgery also allows the use of other treatment during surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation can be delivered directly to the tumor during an open operation. This allows for higher concentrations of drug or radiation to be delivered to the site without exposing the rest of the body. Tumors at the base of the skull often require more extensive procedures and more lengthy operations. These tumors often involve the nerves and vessels that exit and enter the skull. Special procedures and monitoring are used during the surgery to increase the safety of the patient.
Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremor and Dystonia. Other disorders are under investigation for treatment include: Tourette's Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Depression. Dr. Levine has extensive experience in DBS and has taught DBS nationally and internationally. He is a Key Opinion Leader in DBS. He has innovated the field with the propagation of frameless techniques for DBS. He collaborated and published clinical research with the NIH.
Epilepsy Surgery
Epilepsy is most commonly treated with medication. However, in some circumstances surgery is needed to eliminate the focus of seizures or a device may be implanted to decrease the number of seizures. Dr. Levine works with epileptologists and epilepsy monitoring unit at Holy Cross Hospital to help screen and eventually treat surgically those patients that require this approach. Our practice was one of the first in our region to use laser ablation to treat epilepsy. This new approach allows for surgical treatment of epilepsy using a minimally invasive technique. Through a single incision, less than one inch long, we can eliminate the seizure focus. With this new technique the patient usually goes home the following day.
Hydrocephalus
Is often associated with headaches, gait disturbance, nausea and difficulty with thinking. It is associated with abnormal flow of the cerebrospinal fluid. There are a number of procedures that can be used to treat this condition. Often a shunt is used to divert the fluid to the abdomen or heart. In some cases an endoscopic brain surgery can be used to treat the condition as well. This is called an endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Our surgeons have experience with both forms of treatment and can determine which is appropriate with the history and imaging studies provided at consultation.
Radiosurgery
Radiosurgery is a technique used to treat tumors or vascular malformations of the brain without cutting the skin. Carefully designed radiation beams are delivered to the site, minimizing damage to surrounding structures. This is ideal for patients with multiple tumors of the brain. Radiosurgery is also used when conventional surgery might be too dangerous. Radiosurgery is not useful for every situation but plays a very important role in the surgical treatment of brain tumors. Stereotactic Radiosurgery is a minimally invasive alternative to conventional brain surgery in some circumstances. This procedure allows safe and effective treatment for many types of intracranial tumors and vascular malformations. By using radiation sources with the aid of sophisticated dose planning software, Radisurgery can often treat conditions once considered inoperable. A linear accelorator delivers beams or X-rays that converge on and destroys tumor cells and abnormal blood vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
Brain Path
BrainPath is a new and unique way to access deep areas of the brain using a minimally invasive technique. This allows the resection of deep seated tumors and evacuation of blood clots deep in the brain that were traditionally considered inaccessible. Dr. Levine was the first surgeon to do this procedure in the metropolitan DC area. Holy Cross Hospital has the first center in state in Maryland and DC area that is fully functional in the BrainPath technique! Our surgeons are willing to consult with patients who may be candidate for this technique.
Cerebrovascular Disease
Blood flow to brain can be interrupted causing a stroke. This can result in a blood clot in the brain that might need to be removed. Also some strokes cause intense swelling in the brain and surgical decompression can be used to lower the pressure in the skull. Other patients have vascular abnormalities in the brain such as aneurysms, or arteriovenous malformations. These can often be treated with endovascular techniques. These too are serious and often require emergency surgery for treatment.
MR Guided Focused Ultrasound
MR Guided Focused Ultrasound uses targeted ultrasound waves to treat the small spot in the brain considered to be responsible for causing tremor. No incisions or permanent implants are needed for the treatment and it is performed using focused ultrasound and an MRI scanner. Dr. Levine and WBSI are the first and currently the only to offer this innovative treatment for tremor in the Metropolitan DC area.