Doctor Nachshon Knollerleading spinal surgeon
At the Top Ichilov 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 tumor shrinks so much that surgery is no longer necessary. The clinic also widely employs vertebroplasty or cementing the vertebral cavity to stop tumor growth and various gentle, endoscopic methods of tumor removal.
Will these methods help you?
Among benign tumors of the spine, hemangiomas are considered some 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 Ichilov Medical Center
Non-surgical Methods
The primary goal of treatment procedures at Top Ichilov is to improve the patient's quality of life and restore the functionality of 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 for managing pain due to 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 tumor, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR) are performed. Radiation is delivered with high precision, with large doses targeting only the tumor, sparing healthy tissues. At Top Ichilov, 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 tumor reduction can take several months.
Spinal Surgeries
If conservative treatment is ineffective, or in cases of tumor growth or nerve compression, surgical treatment is employed, aimed not so much at tumor removal as at alleviating symptoms. The surgeons at Top Ichilov quickly and efficiently perform the following surgeries:
- Vertebroplasty or cementing the cavity in the vertebra created by inserting a balloon. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia under X-ray or CT control and does not require hospitalization. The biological cement halts tumor growth.
- Nucleotomy or percutaneous discectomy involves removing 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. This procedure is carried out by implanting a stationary biological or synthetic bone implant.
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Accurate Diagnosis of Spinal Hemangioma at Top Ichilov
First Day - Initial Consultation
On the first day, the patient receives a preliminary consultation with a leading Israeli specialist in spinal tumor removal. The doctor examines the patient, reviews their medical history and results from examinations conducted abroad, and then develops a further diagnostic plan based on the obtained data.
Second Day - Basic Diagnostics
Specialists at Top Ichilov Medical Center have a rich arsenal of modern diagnostic tools that allow for the timely detection of tumors 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 detects tumors of the smallest size due to its high resolution
- 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 nerves (impulses pass more slowly through affected nerves)
Third Day - 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 tumors is thorough early diagnosis followed by the application of proven, long-experienced therapeutic methods. For many years, specialists at the leading Israeli center Top Ichilov have built their work on these two principles. Patients who want to be confident in the treatment outcome should choose our Center, especially since they can base their choice on numerous recommendations from predecessors who have visited Top Ichilov and left positive feedback about the medical staff and the level of service at the clinic.