Neurosurgery

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Colak

1. **Brain Tumors (Neuro-oncology)**

   - **Gliomas**: Including astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and glioblastomas.
   - **Meningiomas**: Tumors arising from the meninges, the layers covering the brain and spinal cord.
   - **Pituitary Tumors**: Tumors affecting the pituitary gland, which may involve delicate microsurgical techniques.
   - **Metastatic Brain Tumors**: Tumors that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body.
   - **Medulloblastomas**: Common in pediatric patients, these are malignant brain tumors.
   - **Primary CNS Lymphomas**: A rare type of tumor affecting the central nervous system.
   - **Acoustic Neuromas (Vestibular Schwannomas)**: Tumors on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain.
   - **Craniopharyngiomas**: Benign tumors near the pituitary gland.

2. **Spinal Tumors**

   - **Intramedullary Tumors**: Tumors located within the spinal cord, such as ependymomas and astrocytomas.
   - **Extramedullary Tumors**: Tumors outside the spinal cord but within the spinal canal, like meningiomas or schwannomas.
   - **Metastatic Spinal Tumors**: Tumors that have spread to the spine from other locations in the body.

3. **Functional Neurosurgery**

   - **Epilepsy Surgery**: Procedures aimed at controlling seizures, including lesionectomy and lobectomy.
   - **Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)**: Used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and essential tremor.
   - **Pain Surgery**: Surgical interventions to treat chronic pain, such as cingulotomy or dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning.
   - **Surgery for Psychiatric Disorders**: Including procedures like capsulotomy and cingulotomy for conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

4. **Vascular Neurosurgery**

   - **Aneurysm Clipping and Coiling**: Treatment of cerebral aneurysms to prevent hemorrhage.
   - **Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)**: Surgical resection or endovascular treatment to prevent bleeding.
   - **Cerebral Bypass Surgery**: Used for moyamoya disease or other conditions affecting cerebral blood flow.
   - **Carotid Endarterectomy**: Surgery to remove blockages in the carotid artery to prevent stroke.

5. **Trauma Neurosurgery**

   - **Craniotomy for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)**: Surgery to relieve pressure from hematomas or swelling.
   - **Spinal Fractures**: Surgical stabilization and decompression for fractures of the spinal column.
   - **Peripheral Nerve Injuries**: Repair of damaged peripheral nerves following trauma.

6. **Pediatric Neurosurgery**

   - **Congenital Malformations**: Including surgery for spina bifida, craniosynostosis, and hydrocephalus.
   - **Pediatric Brain Tumors**: Treatment of tumors common in children, like medulloblastomas and ependymomas.
   - **Chiari Malformations**: Surgery to correct structural defects in the cerebellum.

7. **Spinal Surgery**

   - **Degenerative Disc Disease**: Surgical intervention for herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.
   - **Spinal Fusion**: Procedures to stabilize the spine in cases of instability.
   - **Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery**: Techniques to reduce recovery time and minimize tissue damage.

8. **Peripheral Nerve Surgery**

   - **Carpal Tunnel Syndrome**: Surgical release of the median nerve.
   - **Ulnar Nerve Compression**: Surgery to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow.
   - **Nerve Grafts**: Reconstruction of damaged nerves using grafts.

9. **Skull Base Surgery**

   - **Resection of Skull Base Tumors**: Complex surgeries to remove tumors located at the base of the skull, including meningiomas and chordomas.
   - **Pituitary Surgery**: Often performed through a transsphenoidal approach to remove pituitary tumors.
   - **Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Repair**: Repair of leaks in the skull base to prevent meningitis.

10. **Cerebrospinal Fluid Disorders**

   - **Hydrocephalus**: Shunt placement to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid.
   - **Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)**: Shunt surgery to relieve symptoms.
   - **Chiari Malformations**: Decompression surgery to alleviate symptoms caused by the malformation.

11. **Neurotrauma and Critical Care**

   - **Management of Severe Head Injury**: Including decompressive craniectomy.
   - **Spinal Cord Injury Management**: Acute surgical and non-surgical care.

12. **Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery**

   - **Stereotactic Biopsy**: A minimally invasive method to obtain tissue samples from brain lesions.
   - **Stereotactic Radiosurgery**: Non-invasive treatment for tumors, AVMs, and other brain conditions using focused radiation (e.g., Gamma Knife, CyberKnife).