Brain tumor
Samsung Medical Center
number of surgeries
- · Endoscopic brain tumor surgery: 1,000 (2016, first time in Korea)
- · Gamma knife radiation surgeries: 1,457 (2018 year)
- · Brain tumor surgeries: 1,050 (2018 year)
- · Glioma: general surgery 238, gamma knife 54
- · Meningioma: general surgery 190, gamma knife 211
- · Pituitary tumor: general surgery 214, gamma knife 62
- · Metastatic brain tumor: general surgery 160, gamma knife surgery 869
The Brain Tumor Center of SMC has performed almost 1000 brain tumor surgeries annually in recent years, the highest record in brain tumor surgery in Korea, with superior techniques and gained abundant experience. We introduced an endoscopic procedure for brain tumors for the first time in Korea in 2009 and, in 2016, seven years after our introduction of neuroendoscopy, became the first medical center to perform 1000 neuroendoscopic surgeries in Korea.
This Center comprises specialist doctors and nurses from the Department of Neurosurgery as well as from other relevant departments including the Department of Radiology, Department of Pathology and Translational Genomics, Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Neurology and Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. For faster diagnosis and better surgery/ treatment planning, all relevant medical teams get together every week to collaborate and discuss treatment - multidisciplinary treatment method. This is in order to provide structured and integrated medical services throughout the course with an aim to achieve the best possible outcome from the treatment.
To guarantee safer, minimally-invasive surgeries with fewer complications, SMC's Brain Tumor Center applies cutting-edge surgical techniques and utilizes own state-of-the-art equipment including neuronavigation systems, neurophysiological monitoring/ neuromonitoring systems, full HD endoscopes, stereotactic systems, functional MRI and mobile CT.
In 2016, SMC introduced ICON, the most advanced gamma knife radiosurgery tool for the first time in Asia and now possessed two units,
The Gamma Knife Center is performing at least 1400 gamma knife radiation surgeries a year and recorded 10000 cumulative surgeries in October 2017 and SMC was the first single hospital to mark such a number in Korea.
In many malignant brain tumor cases, surgeries are accompanied by radiation therapy and it is essential to apply the most technologically advanced equipment to ensure intactness of brain function and to provide precisely targeted treatment in radiation therapy. In 2015, SMC introduced a "dream therapy" - advanced 2nd generation of proton therapy equipment with the lowest currently possible side effects.
Details are finalized after consulting with the hospital