Brain Tumor Surgery

Often, brain tumor treatment involves removing all or part of the tumor through surgery. At the Neurological Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, our neurosurgeons use advanced techniques to give your child the best possible results.

Our outcomes and safety records exceed those of our peers—and we have achieved national recognition for this exceptional care.

Brain Tumors Surgery in Children: Why Choose Us

When you come to Children’s Hospital, you benefit from the expertise of many of the top specialists in the field. We perform some of the highest volumes of brain tumor surgery in the nation, leading to an exceptional level of care. We successfully treat conditions that were previously considered incurable and help more children lead full, productive lives.

Highlights of our program include:

  • Multidisciplinary approach: Children’s Hospital is home to all the pediatric subspecialists your child may need. Neurosurgeons work together with neuro-oncologists, neurologists, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists and genetics experts to optimize your child’s treatment. Some of our experts have decades of experience. All of our specialists use research-based methods to guide treatment recommendations. Meet our team.
  • Precise diagnosis: Your child has access to advanced imaging technologies that enable us to pinpoint the location of complex tumors. Our neuropathologists specialize in evaluating brain tissue samples for the most precise diagnosis. Children’s Hospital also offers in-house genetic testing through our Center for Personalized Medicine. These capabilities enable us to diagnose brain tumors with a high degree of accuracy.
  • Personalized care: Children’s Hospital offers the full range of brain tumor treatments. Your child’s treatment plan may involve surgery alone or in combination with other treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy. When a procedure is necessary, care may include innovative options such as laser ablation surgery.
  • Research: Children’s Hospital works alongside other leading brain tumor programs to advance treatments and outcomes through research. We participate in prestigious pediatric brain tumor clinical trials consortia where the best and brightest minds are exploring new therapeutic options. Your child may have the opportunity to take part in these efforts through clinical research studies.

Brain Tumor Surgery Options

We use the most advanced surgical techniques, including:

Craniotomy

A craniotomy involves removing a small piece of the skull to operate on the brain. It is the most common surgery for treating brain tumors.

With a craniotomy, neurosurgeons can:

  • Look closely at your child’s brain
  • Release any excess pressure in the brain
  • Remove the brain tumor

Endoscopic Surgery

Endoscopic surgery uses an endoscope—a thin, flexible tube with a tiny high-tech camera on the end. Neurosurgeons use small, special tools along with the endoscope to perform endoscopic surgery. This type of brain surgery is minimally invasive—neurosurgeons insert the endoscope through the nose or through a small incision in the skull.

The camera used during endoscopic surgery shows a magnified image of your child’s brain, helping surgeons operate more precisely and safely. Benefits of endoscopic surgery include:

  • Decreased risk of complications
  • Faster recovery
  • Minimal side effects

Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery uses a targeted dose of radiation to shrink tumors. Using radiosurgery, doctors can direct the radiation precisely to the tumor without affecting healthy parts of the brain.

In the past, children needed to wear a large head frame attached to their skull with screws to keep the head still during treatment. They had to stay in the hospital with the head frame on until they finished treatment. Now, we use a frameless approach.

Benefits of a frameless surgery

Frameless stereotactic radiosurgery means your child:

  • Experiences fewer radiation side effects
  • Does not need to stay in the hospital overnight
  • Does not need extra surgeries to attach and remove the head frame

Laser Ablation Surgery

Laser ablation surgery uses focused beams of light to destroy tumor cells. During this procedure, neurosurgeons use an advanced surgical robot. This robotic tool allows surgeons to operate on the tumor with only one small incision.

This surgery uses MRI for a more precise approach. Using laser treatment is less invasive, so your child benefits from:

  • A shorter hospital stay
  • Decreased risk of complications
  • Less pain
  • Quicker recovery

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is a procedure to improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear liquid in the brain and spinal cord that cushions your child’s organs and brings nutrients from the blood cells to the brain. Sometimes, the position of a brain tumor blocks the flow of CSF in your child’s brain.

If the flow gets blocked, your child might experience increased pressure in the brain and skull. This pressure can cause:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Without treatment, your child’s symptoms may become more severe.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Treatment

Our neurosurgeons collaborate with neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists and other experts to treat brain and spinal cord tumors in children. This team approach means your child receives advanced, timely care. Learn more about neuro-oncology and brain tumor treatment.

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