Approaches to Brain Tumor Surgery

Stanford doctors use various surgical approaches for safe and effective operations. The 2 most common approaches are:

• Computer-assisted brain surgery: This operation uses imaging technologies such as CT or MRI scans to create a 3D model of your brain. During surgery, the computer system guides your surgeon to the tumor. This technique helps minimize the effect of the surgery on critical brain function.
• Awake brain surgery: Your surgeon starts the operation while you are sedated, with a local anesthetic for your scalp. You are then allowed to slowly wake up, so your surgeon can stimulate areas of your brain with a small electrode while tesing your language or motor function. You are also asked to perform tasks such as speaking and moving body parts. Your responses help the surgeon remove as much of the tumor as possible, while protecting functions such as vision, speech, movement, and coordination.