Neurology Otolaryngology News Archive Featured in the Media JeffNEWS

Jefferson will host a webcast featuring the newest approach for the removal of pituitary tumors – minimally invasive endoscopic pituitary surgery – on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 4:30 pm. Viewers will also be able to ask questions online of the surgical team during the surgery.

Jefferson experts in Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery will perform this procedure through the nasal passages and sinus cavities without external incisions. New state-of-the-art technology has allowed for improved visualization and access to these difficult tumors which has resulted in a shorter hospital stay, a faster recovery and improved outcomes. The webcast can be viewed at www.jeffersonhospital.org/webcast .

Co-directors of the Jefferson Center for Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Cranial Base Surgery and Endoscopic Neurosurgery, A first-of-its-kind-in-the-region state of the art program has opened at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital offering a new alternative real hope for people with brain and skull base previously inoperable brain tumors, who can now undergo a minimally invasive procedure that could cure them.

T he Jefferson Center for Minimally Invasive Cranial Base Surgery and Endoscopic Neurosurgery is the first a comprehensive center in the Philadelphia area where surgeons are able to remove skull-based tumors through nose and nasal sinuses instead of the traditional, more invasive surgery which required opening up the brain and skull .

Marc Rosen, M.D., Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University , and James Evans, M.D., Neurosurgery, will pe r form the procedure. David W. Andrews, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Neurosurgery, will narrate .

Drs. Evans and Rosen have been working together for several years and have performed at least 150 of these endoscopic tumor surgeries procedures to date.

“Th e is webcast will allow both patients and colleagues to see th is leading edge surgical technique that gives us a new way to treat patients with benign and malignant brain , cranial base and sino-nasal tumors , many of which were previously untreatable,” said noted Dr. Rosen.

“Our multidisciplinary team of medical experts has been able to dramatically improve patient outcomes and reduce l ength of hospitalization using this new tech n ique ,” said Dr. Evans. “ This is sure to be come t he standard of care.”

T he Jefferson Center for Minimally Invasive Cranial Base Surgery and Endoscopic Neurosurgery is a comprehensive center in the Philadelphia area where surgeons are able to remove skull-base tumors through minimally invasive surgery .

“Through this Center, our multidisciplinary team of medical experts will be has been able to dramatically improve patient outcomes and reduce the length of hospital stays,” added Dr. Evans. “Patients can also begin radiation and chemotherapy sooner than they would be able to with conventional surgical procedures.”

“ Jefferson’s innovative program combines neuro-navigation, endoscopic technology and minimally invasive approaches to effectively treat many cranial base and intracranial tumors previously requiring lengthy and often destructive procedures,” said Dr. Rosen Evans .

“ Better visualization and access to these difficult lesions has enabled improved resection, preservation of function, decreased post-operative morbidity, decreased hospital stay and fewer complications ,” added Dr. Rosen .

The new center at Jefferson will have seven dedicated, has minimally-invasive operating suites in which to perform these procedures, all equipped with state of the art computer navigation systems, and new endoscopic instrumentation. image guidance capture systems, state-of-the art robotic technology, CT/MRI fusion and plasma monitors. These procedures are also complimented by the Department of Neurosurgery’s Division of Neuro-Oncologic Neurosurgery and Stereotactic Radiosurgery and the use of the . The Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience is equipped with both a Novalis® Shaped Beam radiosurgery unit, and gamma knife radiosurgery unit, representing the first configuration of its kind in the Delaware Valley. Our team is involved in advancing the field in skull base reconstruction surgical techniques and the development of state of the art robotic surgery technology.

Traditionally, cranial - base d tumors have been removed through large surgical openings in the patient’s skull or and by removing facial bones. Instead, Jefferson’s multi-disciplinary team applies an advanced , minimally invasive approach which is less destructive and provides improved visualization. The surgeons first use a thin endoscope with a camera attached to enter a patient’s nostrils nose and sinuses, allowing them to view approach the tumors magnified on plasma screens without external incisions.

Guided by the endoscope and enhanced computer navigation, the surgeons open small holes in the base of the skull and membrane covering the brain.

Jefferson’s surgeons are finding that b etter visualization and access to these difficult lesions has enabled improved resection, preservation of function, decreased post-operative morbidity, decreased hospital stay and fewer complications.

In addition to pituitary tumor, other conditions that may be effectively managed by minimally invasive endocsopic techniques include: craniopharyngioma (brain tumor that mostly affects children), chordoma (a malignant tumor that occurs along the spine attacking especially the bones at the base of the skull or near the coccyx ), chondrosarcoma (malignant neoplasm derived from cartilage cells and occurring most frequently in pelvic bones), meni ngioma (slow-growing tumor of the meninges, occurring most often in adults), sino-nasal malignancy, juvenile nasal angiofibroma, cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningocele, encephalocele, colloid cyst, as well as other intracranial and intraventricular tumors.

Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

For more information about the new Jefferson Center for Minimally Invasive Cranial Base Surgery and Endoscopic Neurosurgery, or to make an appointment with a Jefferson physician, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.