1. Surgical Innovations
“Surgical advancements for glioblastoma are increasingly focused on maximizing tumor removal while safeguarding neurological, including cognitive, functions,” says Joseph Landolfi, DO, a neuro-oncologist and the division chief of neuro-oncology at Hackensack Meridian Health’s JFK New Jersey Neuroscience Institute in Edison, New Jersey. “A personalized approach combining sophisticated techniques is crucial.”
Brain Mapping
Advanced brain mapping allows a highly specialized surgeon to remove as much of a tumor as possible while attempting to minimize complications. It may be the most effective surgical approach today, says Alyx Porter Umphrey, MD, a neurologist, a professor of neurology, and the director of the neuro-oncology section at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Phoenix.
Then your surgeon can carefully plan a surgical route that maximizes tumor removal while minimizing the risk of losing cognitive or neurological function, says Nitesh V. Patel, MD, a brain and tumor neurosurgeon and the co-director of the neurosurgical oncology program at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.
Fluorescence-Guided Surgery
Awake Craniotomy
“If the surgeon gets too close to a critical area, they can immediately adjust,” Porter Umphrey says. “[This procedure] requires a coordinated team, including neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, and anesthesiologists, all working together to maximize tumor removal without compromising cognition or quality of life.”
