Although spinal tumors may be suspected or even tentatively diagnosed by the person’s primary care physician, they should only be treated by an expert spinal tumor team including an experienced neurosurgeon and neuro-oncologist. Within neurosurgery, there are sub-specialists whose expertise in treating spinal tumors is unparalleled. The neurosurgeons of the Spinal Tumor Program at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center perform complex surgical procedures every week and have an international reputation for their expertise. They work closely with neuro-oncologists and other experts to achieve the best outcomes for their patients.
A highly trained team of spinal neurosurgeons, cerebrovascular neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, and radiosurgeons are available to treat spinal tumors:
Roger Härtl, MD, named as one of the top 50 spine surgeons in the United States, is the Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery and Director of Spinal Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, as well as the founder and director of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care. He’s also the official neurosurgeon for the New York Giants. Dr. Härtl's clinical and research expertise is in simple and complex spine surgery and neurotrauma. Dr. Härtl believes that surgery should be a part of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, and he works very closely with other specialists in a team effort to achieve the best outcome for his patients. (Read more about Dr. Härtl.)
Susan Pannullo, MD, director of Clinical Neuro-oncology, is board-certified in both Neurology and Neurological Surgery and specializes in stereotactic radiosurgery. Her practice allows her access to the Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, and Brainlab iX, all of which allow non-invasive treatment of spinal tumors and other conditions of the brain and spine. (Read more about Dr. Pannullo.)
Rohan Ramakrishna, MD, is an award-winning neurosurgeon who specializes in the treatment of central nervous system tumors. Dr. Ramakrishna treats patients with gliomas, metastatic disease, skull base lesions, and pituitary disorders. He uses advanced awake mapping, imaging techniques, and microsurgery to ensure maximal tumor removal and achieve the safest possible surgical outcomes. He sees patients at both the main campus on the Upper East Side and at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist, where he is chief of neurological surgery. (Read more about Dr. Ramakrishna.)
Caitlin Hoffman, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in pediatric neurosurgery. She has completed fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery and has performed extensive research on the molecular mechanisms of progression of brain tumors, specifically medulloblastoma. (More about Dr. Hoffman)
Michael Virk, MD, is a widely published neurosurgeon with specialty training in minimally invasive and complex surgery for a wide variety of spine conditions. In addition to spinal tumors, his specialties include scoliosis, trauma, degenerative disease, radiculopathy, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis. Dr. Virk uses state-of-the-art minimally invasive techniques with intraoperative, computer-assisted navigation as well as spinal endoscopy. He also uses fundamental, open surgical strategies in patients who will benefit most from these. (Read more about Dr. Virk)
At Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens:
John Park, MD, PhD, is chief of neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens; he is also co-director of the CSF Leak Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Park has particular expertise in the treatment of spinal tumors and degenerative disorders of the cervical and lumbar spine, and he is the only spine surgeon in Queens named to the annual Castle Connolly list of top neurosurgeons. (More about Dr. Park)
Galal Elsayed, MD, is an award-winning neurosurgeon with advanced fellowship training in endoscopic, minimally invasive, and complex reconstructive spine surgery from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Elsayed has training in the use of augmented reality and robotics, and has personally pioneered surgical planning using virtual reality/spatial computing for minimally invasive spine surgery and complex spinal reconstructions. (More about Dr. Elsayed)
At NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist (in addition to Dr. Ramakrishna, above):
Osama Kashlan, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, including innovative new endoscopic and robotic approaches to the spine. He has a special interest in tumors, infections, and congenital defects of the lumbosacral junction, with a vast experience in treating adult tethered cords and sacral pathologies requiring a sacrectomy or coccygectomy with or without lumbopelvic reconstruction.(More about Dr. Kashlan)
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