Effective Treatment for Tumors and Aneurysms in Raleigh, North Carolina
A craniotomy is a surgical procedure that cuts a piece of the skull away so that a neurosurgeon can then access the brain.
How Is Craniotomy Used to Treat a Brain Tumor?
Surgery is the usual treatment for the removal of most brain tumors. To remove a brain tumor, a neurosurgeon first performs the craniotomy, making an opening in the skull.
The surgeon will attempt to remove the entire tumor. However, if the tumor cannot be completely removed without damaging vital brain tissue, the surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible. Partial removal helps relieve symptoms by reducing pressure on the brain, as well as reduces the amount of tumor that needs to be treated by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
How Is Craniotomy Used to Treat an Aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in the wall of an artery in the brain, which can tear or bleed, causing nearby cells to be damaged. Often, surgery is required to reduce the risk of damage or death from the rupture of the aneurysm.
After a scalp incision, the surgeon removes part of the skull to provide exposure to the area of the aneurysm. The dura is peeled back and trapped blood and cerebrospinal fluid may be removed. The surgeon then closes off or clips the aneurysm, or may seal off the artery leading to the aneurysm. The clip is placed on the part of the aneurysm where it bulges from the artery, preventing future bleeding and protecting nearby brain tissue from further damage. After making sure the clip is secure, the surgeon puts the dura and the piece of skull back in place. Sometimes a device may be left in the skull to measure pressure in the skull.
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Our neurosurgeons at Raleigh Neurosurgical Clinic have extensive experience performing craniotomies. To meet with one of our specialists:
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