Today, Israel ranks among the top three leaders in medical tourism, with oncology being a priority area. Specialists of the highest qualification, many of whom are recognized worldwide, successfully address the issues of diagnosis and treatment of tumors of various types, including rare cases such as ganglioneuroma. Treatment of ganglioneuroma in Israel is conducted using modern surgical techniques that are maximally effective and safe for the patient. If there are reasons that make surgical intervention impossible, the tumor is removed using radiosurgical methods. Considering the risk of malignancy, the treatment program may include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Particular attention is paid to accurate diagnosis, which is complicated by the fact that at early stages, the characteristic signs of the disease do not manifest, and the pathology is usually detected incidentally during examinations for other reasons. The presence of the latest high-tech equipment in Israeli clinics allows for the diagnosis of the disease at early stages and provides therapy that ensures a sustained long-term remission or complete recovery in more than 90% of patients. Positive feedback from patients who have undergone treatment in Israel confirms the high professionalism of doctors, the effectiveness of therapy, and comfortable conditions. At the same time, the cost is significantly lower than in the USA and Western Europe, making it accessible for medical tourists.
Treatment Methods for the Disease
Ganglioneuroma is a benign neoplasm formed from ganglia — nerve nodes that represent a cluster of nerve cells. In most cases, the pathology occurs in the brain or spinal cord, and less frequently in the digestive organs and bladder. The treatment of this oncological disease aims to remove the entire or as much of the neoplasm as possible, alleviate painful symptoms, and establish a stable remission. Restoring impaired bodily functions and preventing recurrence is also of great importance. The selection of the most effective therapeutic methods for the patient is carried out after the patient undergoes the prescribed examinations.
Surgical Treatment
Surgical removal of the neoplasm is the primary and most effective method of treatment. The possibility of performing surgical intervention and the extent of the operation depend primarily on the localization of the pathological focus. Surgical removal of ganglioneuroma is not always possible, as the tumor is characterized by infiltration into adjacent tissues and organs. For example, tumors localized in the spinal cord often develop towards the center of the spinal canal, while in the brain, the tumor may be located near vital structures.
Most often, the neoplasm can be removed using minimally invasive endoscopic intervention, which does not require large incisions, has a low probability of complications, and features a short and uncomplicated recovery period. Leading Israeli clinics widely use robotic surgeries performed with the assistance of the Da Vinci robotic surgical system. Surgical actions are executed with exceptional precision by a robotic surgeon, remotely controlled by the operating surgeon. Such interventions are maximally safe for the patient, provide a favorable prognosis, and the recovery period, which is easily tolerated by patients, lasts only a few days.
Stereotactic Surgery
When surgical removal of ganglioneuroma is not possible, radiosurgical treatment using the CyberKnife system is successfully performed in Israel. This technique is based on destroying tumor tissues with high doses of ionizing radiation. Before the procedure, a computer program models the tumor, accurately determining its localization, and calculates the direction of the radioactive beams. About three hundred ionizing beams are generated from different sources and directed at the tumor from various angles. Just before reaching the tumor, the beams are focused and act on it with a cumulative power sufficient to destroy the pathological cells. Each individual beam passing through healthy tissues carries too little radiation load to cause significant damage.
Thus, stereotactic surgery methods allow for the destruction of neoplasms in 1-3 sessions without harming healthy tissues and without causing side effects.
Radiotherapy
Radiation sessions are prescribed when complete removal of ganglioneuroma is impossible. In these cases, radiotherapy serves as a method of preventing recurrence. In Israel, radiotherapy is conducted on modern TrueBeam and Novalis systems, using the progressive IMRT technique (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy). This allows for the most precise irradiation of the pathological focus, with varying intensity of irradiation across different areas, provided there is no significant damage to healthy tissues.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is rarely used, prescribed in cases of recurrence or signs of malignancy of the pathology. Israeli clinics use the latest generation of chemotherapy drugs, which are highly effective with low toxicity, gentle on the patient's body, and have a small number of mild side effects.
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How the Diagnosis of the Disease is Conducted
Since the symptoms of ganglioneuroma often resemble those of other diseases, clinics with outdated equipment do not always manage to quickly establish the correct diagnosis. In Israeli clinics, a comprehensive diagnostic examination necessary for developing an effective treatment program takes no more than three days.
First Day
During the initial consultation, the treating physician reviews the patient's medical history, studies the results of previous examinations, clarifies the patient's complaints, conducts a physical examination, and prescribes necessary tests.
Second Day
The patient undergoes the prescribed examinations, which include:
- general and biochemical blood tests;
- visual imaging methods (X-ray, CT, MRI);
- angiography of the vessels;
- biopsy with subsequent histological analysis of the obtained material.
Third Day
A medical council consisting of the treating physician and several specialized experts reviews the results of the conducted examinations, establishes the final diagnosis, and develops a treatment plan.
How Much Does Treatment Cost
The cost of treatment depends on the size and localization of the neoplasm, the stage of the disease, and several other factors, and is determined after the patient undergoes examinations and the appointment of treatment procedures. Overall, prices in Israel are 30-50% lower than in Western European and American clinics of comparable level.
Advantages of Treatment in Israel
- High level of qualification and experience of doctors.
- Equipping clinics with high-tech medical and diagnostic equipment.
- Use of modern treatment methods.
- Professional execution of neurosurgical operations.
- Affordable prices.
Getting rid of ganglioneuroma is possible; the main thing is to start treatment as soon as possible. Therefore, do not waste time, contact your chosen clinic, and restore your health under the guidance of highly qualified specialists.