Congenital Anomalies
As a pediatric neurosurgeon at Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) in New York, I perform surgeries to treat a wide range of congenital anomalies affecting the nervous system and related structures. Below is a list of congenital anomalies that my team can help fix:
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Medulloblastomas: These are fast-growing tumors that usually develop in the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination. They are more common in children.
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Arachnoid Cysts: Congenital cysts that may grow overtime and become symptomatic; surgical drainage via fenestration or shunt placement can allow for treatment of this pathology. Best outcomes are achieved with endoscopic surgical treatment.
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Skull Dermoid: Inclusion cysts that arise during development and attach to the bone of the skull and can grow and erode the bone overtime.
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Cerebral Palsy: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) or other procedures to improve motor function and manage spasticity.
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Vein of Galen Malformation: Embolization or surgical intervention to manage this rare vascular anomaly.
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Facial Anomalies: Surgical correction of craniofacial abnormalities associated with neurological conditions.
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Pachygyria and Lissencephaly: Surgical management of resultant epilepsy from these developmental disorders.
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Neural Tube Defects: Surgical interventions for various defects affecting the development of the neural tube. Intervention can be urgently required and performed dural fetal period, immediate post natal, and or later in development.
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Dermal Sinus Tract: Surgical management of abnormal tracts connecting the skin to the brain or spinal cord.
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Encephalocele: Surgical correction of brain tissue protruding through an opening in the spine or skull (either anteriorly/face or posteriorly/occiput).
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Prenatal and Neonatal Conditions: Surgeries performed shortly after birth for conditions detected during prenatal screening or immediately after delivery.
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Dandy-Walker Malformation: Surgical procedures to address cysts and cerebrospinal fluid buildup in the posterior fossa of the brain or the ventricular system.
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Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum: This is often a radiographic finding in association with other abnormalities (i.e. septo-optic-dysplasia); most common sequelae that requires treatment is that of hydrocephalus.
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Neurocutaneous Disorders: Various degree of genertic diorders that often have skin maniestations as a taletale sign of underlying cerebral abnormalities. Such disorders include: Neurofibromatosis type I, Neurofibromatosis type II, Tuberous Sclerosis, von-hippel-lindau, sturg weber, ataxic telangiectasia, etc.
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Optic Pathway Gliomas: These tumors affect the optic nerves and often lead to vision problems.
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Pilocytic astrocytomas: These are typically low-grade tumors that often occur in the cerebellum and other parts of the brain.