The Neurosurgery program at The Mount Sinai Hospital was established in 1914 by Dr. Charles Elsberg and stands as an independent department. The residency program, begun in 1946, has become a nationally recognized center of excellence. The Neurosurgery faculty practice specializes in the surgical treatment of adults and children with diseases and disorders related to the brain and spinal cord. Subspecialization among the attending staff fosters broad patient referrals requiring a wide-range of surgery. Internationally renowned areas of expertise exist in skull-base, cerebrovascular, pituitary, acoustic, spinal reconstruction, epilepsy, radiosurgery, stereotactic, and primary brain tumor surgery and neuroendoscopy.

Mount Sinai's neurosurgeons have expertise in the latest diagnostic and surgical techniques including magnetic resonance imaging, MR, and CT angiography, spinal reconstruction, intracranial neuroendoscopy, functional neurosurgery, radiosurgery, and stereotactic, and computer assisted image-guided neurosurgery.

Brain Tumor

The Neurosurgeons at Mount Sinai are international leaders in the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors, tumors of the skull base, and pituitary tumors. They utilize the latest techniques, including computer-assisted image-guided tumor resections and biopsies, advanced skull base approaches, and minimally invasive/endoscopic procedures. The Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for patients with tumors of the brain and other cancer-related neurological problems. Each case is discussed at our weekly multi-disciplinary tumor board to provide the most advanced and individualized care to each patient. Diseases treated include meningioma, glioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, angiofibroma, chordoma, cholesterol granuloma, neuroma, epidermoid tumor, esthesioneuroblastoma, glomus tumor, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, neuroma, pharyngeal carcinoma, pituitary tumor, neuroendocrine disorders, and temporal bone neoplasm. Clinical trials are available to our patients and posted on our Web site.

Cerebrovascular Disorders (Stroke)

Mount Sinai has a highly experienced team that provides a complete range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurovascular disorders of the brain and spinal cord. We provide the highest level of care for patients with aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), carotid and intracranial stenoses, and tumors of the skull base as well as other neurovascular problems of the brain and spinal cord. Our exceptionally skilled team includes physicians specializing in microsurgical techniques, endovascular techniques, stereotactic radiosurgery, neurocritical care, neurology and neurological rehabilitation. This advanced multi-disciplinary team works together to prevent or minimize the neurological impact of neurovascular disorders and to maximize recovery. Some of the current treatments available include microsurgical treatment of aneurysms and AVMs with clipping and resection, endovascular treatment of aneurysms with coils and/or stents, endovascular treatment of AVMs with liquid acrylics, stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of AVMs and tumors, endovascular treatment of stenoses with stents and angioplasty and microsurgical treatment of stenoses and occlusions with bypass. Our team members are dedicated to providing routine and emergency care, whether the care involves consultations, treatment or follow-up.

Functional Neurosurgery

Functional neurosurgery involves the use of computers, neural stimulators, implantable pumps and biotechnology to restore normal brain function or halt the progression of degenerative diseases. Mount Sinai is recognized globally as a leader in this field for pioneering the use of low frequency stimulation for the treatment of dystonia. Mount Sinai has performed the most deep brain stimulator (DBS) implants for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia in the New York Tri-State region. Ongoing research includes clinical trials of gene therapy for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease and the use of DBS for the treatment of depression.

Radiosurgery

This outpatient treatment does not require opening the skull. Instead it utilizes radiation applied with computer assistance in a pinpoint manner to non-invasively treat lesions of the brain and spinal cord. Radiosurgery is thus an effective alternative to traditional surgery. The Novalis radiosurgery system used at Mount Sinai allows precise and minimally-invasive treatment of brain and spine benign tumors, brain and spine cancer, vascular lesions, and facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia).

Pituitary Program

Neurosurgeons at Mount Sinai are international leaders in the treatment of pituitary disease. Our team consists of neurosurgery, endocrinology, neuro-ophthamology, radiation oncology, and neuro-oncology. Surgical approaches include transanasal and transsphenoidal microsurgery, extended transsphenoidal, endoscopic and craniotomy. Treatment options may include medication, where indicated. Adjunctative therapy may include radiation and neuro-oncologic evaluations. Pituitary related research is ongoing. The team has published extensively in the field.

Spinal Diseases and Disorders

Mount Sinai's neurosurgeons offer comprehensive treatment for all disorders of the spine and spinal cord, including degenerative conditions, spinal tumors, trauma, spinal deformity (scoliosis), and pain. Both open and minimally-invasive techniques are applied to each patient and each condition as appropriate.

Pain: Pain of spinal, cranial and nerve origin are addressed by our neurosurgeons. Structural abnormalities are addressed via more traditional surgery, while neuropathic pain syndromes are addressed via advanced techniques in neuromodulation, spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulators as appropriate. Patients whose pains were previously thought to be untreatable have now found relief with some of these newer techniques.

Degenerative: Our neurosurgeons treat degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. These include disc herniations, stenosis, spinal cord compression, all of which may present with pain, weakness, or both. Clinical trials are underway, investigating the optimal diagnostic and treatment modalities in degenerative disease and cervical myelopathy.

Tumor: Our neurosurgeons take a multi-disciplinary approach, working with our comprehensive cancer center, to treat primary and metastaic tumors to the spine. New trials evaluating minimally-invasive techniques are being pioneered at Mount Sinai Hospital. Patients are living longer and functioning better as a result of early treatment of these tumors.

Deformity (scoliosis): Adult and pediatric spinal deformity are treated by our neurosurgeons. In addition, spina bifida, tethered cord, diastematomyelia, and other congenital abnormalities are routinely treated. These patients are followed by a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, urologists, pain management specialists, internists/pediatricians, and orthopedists as appropriate.

Hydrocephalus

Mount Sinai neurosurgeons are very experienced in treating normal pressure hydrocephalus with programmable valves that offer better results and safety than traditional valves.

From Bench to Beside

The interaction of our research teams with our clinical teams allows us to rapidly translate research findings into new therapies and better approaches to patient care. Supported by National Institute of Health funding, other grants and private donations, our faculty publishes findings in peer-reviewed journals in areas such as gene therapy, stem cell application to human diseases, immunotherapy, deep-brain stimulation, minimally invasive approaches to the skull base, pituitary and neuroendocrine disorders, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial aneurysms, carotid stenting and cerebral blood flow and metabolism. Many of these discoveries have already been applied to enhance patients' care.