Neurology/Neurosurgery

For dural arteriovenous fistulas, a team approach 
Johns Hopkins’ Cerebrovascular Center brings together specialists to treat what neurosurgeon Judy Huang calls, “an anatomical connection that shouldn’t be there.” Learn about the team’s toolkit for correcting this rare condition.

Standing up to spine pain
David Buffamoyer had multiple unsuccessful surgeries before meeting spine surgeon Ali Bydon at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Dr. Bydon’s expertise, and the neuro-navigation tools at his disposal (like an intra-operative CT-scanner), provided the relief David had sought for years.

For pediatric brainstem tumors, operable is possible 
Pediatric neurosurgeon George Jallo needed more than clinical knowledge to remove a large tumor in his patient’s medulla. He relied on the careful skills of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring specialists. Find out how the complex surgery’s success surpassed all expectations.

New Dual iCT at Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
A dual-room intraoperative CT scanner improves patient safety and surgical outcomes. Take a tour of Hopkins' new surgical theater, guided by neurosurgeons Ali Bydon and Alessandro Olivi.

Intraoperative CT at Johns Hopkins Bayview
Traditionally, patients travel from OR to CT for post-surgery evaluation—and back to the OR again if necessary. At Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, intraoperative CT eliminates this trip and enables surgeons to evaluate as they operate.

Symptoms that mimic epilepsy linked to stress, poor coping skills
When antiseizure medications failed to stem symptoms for suspected epilepsy sufferers, physicians and psychologists began to look for other culprits. In many cases, the source is psychiatric, not neurologic. Mistaking one for the other is costly for patients, physicians and health systems. Learn how they distinguished epilepsy from stress sensitivity.

Four surgeons, three operations and one very thankful patient
When Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon Alfredo Quiñones says, “It was the biggest tumor I’ve ever seen…,” it must have been phenomenal. Fortunately, the 24-year-old patient came to a place with the right combination of expertise to take on his rare tumor. Find out how Quiñones and others got the young man back on his feet.

Sorting through aneursym options
Clip or coil? They sound like hairstyle options, but they’re really two approaches to aneurysm repair. Hopkins neurosurgeons offer variations of these common practices, and even a complex rerouting of blood flow around large aneurysms. Learn about the menu of possibilities for resolving aneurysm.

Writing a new chapter after a brain tumor
Author Nancy Raine found a real hero in internationally respected neurosurgeon Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa. Equipped with an intraoperative CT scanner, he removed the supposedly "inoperable" tumor wrapped around her brain stem.

Teamwork versus normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
Hopkins neurologists are certain this condition is commonly misdiagnosed. That's why they collaborate on patient evaluation—applying a complex set of criteria.

Novel neurosurgery at Hopkins: Sharon's story
Sharon Byrnes refused to let a brain tumor change her pioneering spirit. At Hopkins, she found kindred spirits in Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa and Kofi Boahene, who together created a new approach to tumor removal through the eyelid.

Winning the war on collateral damage
Daniel Sciubba looks beyond the boundaries of brain tumors to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue. He joins other Hopkins neurosurgeons in a quest for new, minimally invasive approaches.

New ways to fight glioblastoma
In one of the clinical trials under way by the Hopkins-led Adult Brain Tumor Consortium, a patient's own tumor cells are injected in the form of a promising vaccine.

A watershed time for hydrocephalus in children
The lasting effects of pediatric hydrocephalus—developmental delays, intellectual disability and even death—may one day be avoidable.

Les Picker's story
When Les Picker met neurosurgeon Rafael Tamargo, he had an optic nerve aneurysm and a list of 22 questions. Dr. Tamargo answered every question and, ultimately, removed Les' aneurysm.

An endovascular pathway to the brain
Elderly patients on blood thinners aren't typical candidates for neurosurgery. But neurosurgeon Alex Coon has developed endovascular techniques for brain surgery—expanding the pool of potential candidates.

A follow-up to stem strokes
Stroke sufferers face greater chance of another stroke if risk factors aren't addressed. Stroke Center Director Victor Urrutia and nurse practitioner Brenda Johnson started a clinic aimed at changing this through careful follow-up.

Standing up to a schwannoma tumor
Eleven-year-old Roderick Ball, Jr., traveled from Atlanta for treatment of a massive schwannoma tumor. Dozens of Hopkins surgeons and physicians, spanning six departments, coordinated the treatment that landed Rod back on his feet.

More than a patient
Spine surgeon Ziya Gokaslan explains why Johns Hopkins is the perfect place to treat complicated neck and back pain cases. His patient, nurse Felice Dorman, shares what it was like to be treated as “more than a patient.”

Coming together for vestibular schwannomas
These rare tumors can affect patients' hearing, facial expression and balance. At Hopkins, treating them is a coordinated effort. A multidisciplinary team joins forces to both remove the tumor and restore function.

Sports coach wins his life back after brain surgery
A Hopkins neurosurgeon, assisted by intraoperative CT, removes completely a tumor once deemed "inoperable."

Not so fast: Study suggests physicians wait longer for signs of brain recovery after hypothermia used to treat victims of cardiac arrest
Therapeutic hypothermia's effect on cardiac arrest patients is promising, but its application is far from perfected.

A referral that saved a family
When Marisa Eickenhorst’s neurologist diagnosed her with an astrocytoma brain tumor, he urged her to travel to Baltimore to see Alessandro Olivi, director of neurosurgical oncology at Johns Hopkins. Olivi and his team took Marisa—and all of her family—into their compassionate care.

A new take on Cushing’s idea
Harvey Cushing’s early-20th-century “advanced treatment” for pituitary tumor included injection of ground pituitary gland. Today, Hopkins neurosurgeon Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa is reevaluating that theory, armed with 21st-century technology.

Surgery sooner rather than later may be best for drug-resistant epilepsy
Some epilepsy patients may find relief through medicine, but recent advances have improved the focus and effectiveness of surgery, say Hopkins experts.

Beyond the brain cancer
Carlos Luceno sees beyond his diagnosis of stage II brain cancer—so it’s only fitting that his Hopkins neurosurgeon sees beyond tumor extraction.

Brain surgery’s GPS
New technology at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center raises tumor capture rates to nearly 100 percent. Learn how intraoperative CT has improved neurosurgery for patient and physician.

Spine surgery offers more opportunities to cut less
Minimally invasive surgery initiatives have finally invaded the spine surgery field.

Pediatric neurosurgery gives a teenager his life
George Jallo discusses how he and Hopkins' multispecialty team brought 17-year-old Steven McDonough from terminal diagnosis to interminable optimism.

Migraine raises risk of most common form of stroke
Severe headache isn’t just a debilitating condition—it’s a precursor to the most common kind of stroke.

When tumors attack the spine
Surgical innovation has Ziya Gokaslan and George Jallo standing up to spinal tumors. Learn about their groundbreaking techniques..

Brief, but broad, insight: Stroke symptoms, treatment and prevention
Neurologist Victor Urrutia is a huge supporter of clinical collaborations and community outreach when it comes to preventing stroke. Join him as he talks physician to physician about the latest in stroke rehab and introduces his new center at Hopkins.

For your patients: 10 tips to strike out stroke!
This printable tip sheet—developed by Hopkins experts—is a quick way to tell your patients how to prevent strokes and recognize when a stroke occurs.