Doctor Nachshon Knollerleading spinal surgeon
At the Top Ihilov clinic, the most effective methods for treating hemangiomas are used, such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR): as a result of 1-2 sessions lasting from 10 minutes to 1 hour, the tumour shrinks so much that surgery is no longer necessary. The clinic also widely employs vertebroplasty or cementing the vertebral cavity to stop the growth of the tumour and various gentle, endoscopic methods of tumour removal.
Will these methods help you?
Among benign tumours of the spine, hemangiomas are considered one of the most dangerous, as they lead not only to microfractures but also to neurological disorders and various complications.
Treatment of Spinal Hemangioma in Israel at Top Ihilov Medical Center
Non-surgical methods
The main goal of the treatment procedures at Top Ihilov is to improve the patient's quality of life and restore the functionality of the affected organs. Therefore, at the initial stage of treating small and medium-sized spinal hemangiomas, methods that alleviate pain are used:
- Acupuncture;
- Pain relief medications;
- Steroid injections
A more radical non-surgical method to combat pain caused by spinal hemangioma is radiofrequency ablation. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under the control of state-of-the-art X-ray equipment. Ablation blocks the nerve, depriving it of the ability to transmit pain signals.
To reduce the size of the tumour, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR) are performed. Radiation is delivered with high precision, with large doses targeted only at the tumour, sparing healthy tissues. At Top Ihilov, these procedures are carried out on the latest generation TrueBeam systems from the world-renowned company Novalis. The effects of radiation do not appear immediately; the process of tumour reduction may take several months.
Spinal surgeries
If conservative treatment is ineffective, and in cases of tumour growth or nerve compression, surgical treatment is resorted to, aimed not so much at removing the tumour as at alleviating symptoms. The surgeons at Top Ihilov quickly and efficiently perform the following surgeries:
- Vertebroplasty or cementing the cavity in the vertebra created by a balloon inserted into the vertebra. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia under X-ray or CT control and does not require hospitalization. The biological cement stops the growth of the tumour.
- Nucleotomy or percutaneous discectomy or removal of the affected part of the disc material through an incision in the intervertebral disc.
- Endoscopic and microsurgical discectomy - removal of a fragment of the intervertebral disc that is pressing on the nerve.
In cases of disc or fragment removal, spinal fusion or arthrodesis is often performed afterward - stabilizing (fusing) the vertebrae to limit their mobility. The procedure is carried out by implanting a stationary biological or synthetic bone implant.
Accurate Diagnosis of Spinal Hemangioma at Top Ihilov
Day One - Initial Consultation
On the first day, the patient receives a preliminary consultation from a leading Israeli specialist in spinal tumour removal. The doctor examines the patient, studies their medical history and the results of examinations conducted abroad, and then, based on the obtained data, develops a plan for further diagnosis.
Day Two - Basic Diagnosis
Specialists at Top Ihilov Medical Center have a rich arsenal of modern diagnostic tools that allow for the timely detection of tumours of any type and location, among which the main ones are:
- Computed tomography (CT) to visualize pathological deformations of the vertebral tissues
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which, due to its high resolution, detects tumours of the smallest size
- Myelogram - X-ray examination of the spinal cord using a contrast agent to detect compressed nerves
- Electromyogram (EMG) - measuring the speed of electrical impulse conduction through the nerves (the impulse passes more slowly through affected nerves)
Day Three - Treatment Plan
On the third day, an expert group of leading spinal surgeons, anesthesiologists, and neurosurgeons is created individually for each patient. The doctors collaboratively develop a treatment plan and monitor its progress.
The key to successful treatment of such tumours is thorough early diagnosis followed by the application of proven methods of therapy based on many years of experience. For many years, the specialists at the leading Israeli center Top Ihilov have built their work on these two principles. Patients who want to be confident in the results of treatment should choose our Center, especially since they can base their choice on numerous recommendations from predecessors who have visited Top Ihilov and left flattering reviews about the work of the medical staff and the level of service at the clinic.