Radiosurgery is a high-tech therapeutic technology that takes advantage of computer power and mechanical precision to deliver high doses of ionizing radiation to discrete intracranial targets. Since no skin cut or bone opening are needed, Radiosurgery can acutely destroy intracranial tumors without the need for anesthesia or hospitalization.
The first Radiosurgery Unit in the Middle East was founded at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center by Dr. Roberto Spiegelmann, in 1992. The unit, which is still the leader of its kind in Israel, treats patient from all over the country as well as patients referred from neighboring countries. Close to 2000 patients have been treated to date. Every year the unit takes care of some 230 adult and pediatric patients with benign and malignant cranial tumors, as well as patients with Arterio-Venous malformations of the brain. Stereotactic Radiosurgery requires multidisciplinary expertise. Radiation Physicists and Oncologists work along with Neurosurgeons.
Patient with acoustic neuroma, before (left) and 4 years after (right) radiosurgery.
metastatic tumor before (left) and two months after (right) radiosurgery
The functional neurosurgery service hosts the neurosurgical procedures for movement disorders and chronic pain control
Movement Disorders: 400 cases of stereotactic surgery for Parkinson's Disease and other disorders of movement (such as Tremor and Dystonia) were performed by Dr. Spiegelman who introduced this discipline to Israel, coinciding with its renaissance in the Western World. The service utilizes advanced stereotactic instrumentation, state-of-the-art computer technology, microelectrode recording equipment, and high-field MRI (3 Tesla). These, together with a vast clinical experience, make our center a leader in this area of functional Neurosurgery. Deep brain stimulation is now the procedure of choice for patients with medically uncontrolled Parkinson's Disease, tremor, or dystonia. The procedure is covered by medical insurers in Israel.
Chronic Pain: Several techniques including spinal cord stimulation, motor cortex stimulation, and ablative spinal procedures are available in the service. There is close contact with the Pain Clinic at Sheba in the process of properly selecting patients requiring surgical relief for chronic pain.
Director -
Dr. Spiegelmann and his team have accumulated extensive experience in the combined approach (surgical/radiosurgical) to the management of complex meningiomas, acoustic neuromas and metastases.
Dr. Spiegelmann is currently the President of the International Society for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (www.isrsy.org)
E-mail - Roberto.Spigelman@sheba.health.gov.il
Tel - Tel - 972-3–530-2650 |
