Brain tumours pose a serious threat to health as they can disrupt vital functions. The foundation of a favorable outcome is early detection, properly prescribed, and professionally conducted anti-tumour therapy, which is successfully provided to all patients who have turned to the Ichilov clinic.
This Israeli clinic uses the most modern diagnostic equipment, allowing for the detection of neoplasms and obtaining the most complete picture of the pathology. At Ichilov, preference is given to microsurgical techniques, which allow for the removal of the tumour without damaging healthy brain tissue. The high precision of the most complex interventions, in addition to high-tech equipment, is ensured by Israeli neurosurgeons, known worldwide for their professionalism and skill.
About the Disease
Hamartoma is a benign (non-cancerous) formation consisting of an abnormal mixture of cells and tissues. Hypothalamic hamartoma is a tumour-like formation in the hypothalamus, an area at the base of the brain that controls the production and release of hormones by the pituitary gland. These hormones regulate a wide range of body functions, from growth and metabolism to sexual development and the body's response to stress.
Although hypothalamic hamartomas do not grow or spread to other parts of the brain or body, they can sometimes exert pressure on the brain, leading to health problems, including seizures, precocious puberty, and cognitive impairments.
Treatment Methods for Hypothalamic Hamartoma in Israel
Treatment of hypothalamic hamartoma depends on the patient's symptoms and the severity of the condition. Seizures are treated by neurologists using anticonvulsant medications. Surgical intervention may be indicated if medications cannot adequately control the seizures.
Medication Treatment
Various combinations of hormone agonists (to block the action of too much of a specific hormone) and hormone replacements are used to counteract the effects of this condition. In particular, hormone agonist medications can be used to stop puberty if it has started too early.
When a child reaches the age appropriate for puberty, medications that prevent early puberty are discontinued, allowing normal puberty to continue. Treatment for metabolic disorders may also be required.
Surgery
A neurosurgeon delicately excises the tumour within healthy tissues, preserving the anatomical integrity and functionality of the brain structures, its veins, and arteries. The operation usually consists of two stages. In the first, the doctor makes a small incision to access the affected area of the brain, and in the second, the tumour is removed.
In the pediatric neurosurgery departments of Israeli hospitals, the latest medical technologies, advanced microsurgical equipment, and state-of-the-art neuro-navigation and control systems are used, ensuring high precision of the surgeon's actions during the operation, allowing for the avoidance of damage to brain areas that control vital functions.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is used to destroy neoplasms that cannot be surgically removed due to their close proximity to vital centers of the brain. Radiation treatment is only applied to children over three years old, as at an early age it can cause irreversible changes in the brain and negatively affect the development of the child's central nervous system.
To avoid the negative impact of ionizing radiation on the child's body, specialists conduct thorough planning and simulation before starting therapy, accurately determining the area of the brain that will be targeted by the radiation source. The doctor meticulously calculates the radiation dose. During the radiation session, Israeli specialists use a special plexiglass mask that secures the patient's head in the correct position and allows for precise targeting of the affected area without harming healthy brain tissue.
Laser Stereotactic Thermal Ablation
Stereotactic thermal ablation generated by laser is a new minimally invasive technology for destroying tumours or damaged tissues. The energy of the laser raises the temperature of the target tissue—in this case, the hypothalamic hamartoma—destroying it. Computerized safety mechanisms automatically shut off the laser if it approaches the surrounding brain tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also used to enhance the accuracy of the procedure and guide the placement of the laser.
100% Accurate Diagnosis in 3 Days
At the Ichilov clinic, patients suspected of having an intracranial tumour receive heightened attention: the examination is entrusted only to highly qualified specialists with extensive experience and is performed on the latest diagnostic equipment, ensuring benchmark accuracy of results. Usually, the examination is planned in advance, even before the patient's arrival at the clinic, and takes place within just 3 days.
Immediately upon arrival at the clinic, the patient meets with a leading specialist. The doctor conducts an examination, reviews the medical history, clarifies symptoms, and decides on the need for additional investigations.
The next day is fully dedicated to undergoing laboratory and instrumental studies aimed at clarifying the diagnosis and obtaining the most complete picture of the disease.
Types of studies may include:
- Laboratory blood and urine tests
- X-ray of the head
- Brain imaging using magnetic resonance methods (MRI)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Tumour biopsy (if necessary)
Additionally, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, angiography, magnetoencephalography, lumbar puncture, and other diagnostic studies may be prescribed, based on which doctors will then determine the treatment strategy.
Once the examination results are ready, the attending physician gathers a consultation. It includes doctors who will participate in the further treatment of the patient. They collectively review the disease picture and determine the prognosis, jointly selecting the most relevant of the existing treatment regimens, based on the principle of an individual approach to each clinical case.
How Much Does Treatment of Hypothalamic Hamartoma Cost
Doctors cannot provide an exact cost of treatment in advance, as it is formed individually in each case, taking into account many factors. These include the complexity of the surgical intervention, additional therapeutic methods, the number and types of diagnostic checks performed, the cost of the anticancer medications used, and much more.
The final price for treatment becomes known only after the doctors conduct the necessary examinations and approve the treatment plan. However, no matter how complex the case may be, one can be assured that brain tumour therapy in Israeli clinics will cost 30–50% less than in medical institutions of a corresponding level in Western Europe and the USA.
Advantages of Treatment in Israel
- The neurosurgery department of the Tel Aviv Medical Center Ichilov has a team of experienced surgeons and clinical staff, many of whom have undergone extensive training in the USA and Europe with leading neurologists in the world.
- The brain tumour treatment program offers you diagnostics and advanced treatment options with a multidisciplinary approach that includes endocrinologists, surgeons, and radiation therapists.
- Each patient is provided with a personal assistant—a case manager—who will help with all matters of interaction with clinic staff from the moment of planning the treatment trip to the discharge from the clinic.
- Transparent payment conditions for medical services received, with no advance payments.
If your child shows signs of the disease and you are interested in obtaining a consultation from an Israeli specialist regarding the treatment of hypothalamic hamartoma, there is no reason to delay contacting the clinic. Do it today. Our medical consultant will do everything possible to ensure that you receive a consultation from an Israeli expert as soon as possible.