Tumour Surgery
In addition to general neurosurgery, our clinical work focuses on brain vessel and carotid surgery, paediatric neurosurgery, pituitary surgery and spinal surgery, functional stereotaxy with neuronavigation and stereotactic irradiation in cooperation with the Department of Radiotherapy. In brain tumour surgery, the Department has a high level of expertise in the treatment of gliomas (glioblastomas), anaplastic gliomas, low-grade gliomas) and cranial base tumours (e. g. acoustic neurinomas, chordomas, chondromes, menigeomas) using numerous modalities (fluorescence-assisted resection with ALA, operations of brain tumours under local anaesthesia, intraoperative monitoring, CUSA ultrasound).
All patients are discussed before and after the surgery by an interdisciplinary group of specialists ("Tumour Board") in order to determine the best possible individual therapy.
Treatment of glioblastoma remains challenging, and tumors usually recur despite optimum surgical resection and adjuvant therapies. So far, optimal treatment of tumor recurrences is even more difficult. Prof. Walter Stummer, Chairman/ Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University Hospital Münster, and his interdisciplinary team of scientists and physicians developed the so-called “Stereotactic Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)”. The procedure includes computer-based highly accurate insertion of very fine optical fibers into the tumor tissue. Subsequent exposition of the tumor to specific red laser light lead to selective destruction of the tumor cells. After promising results in preliminary investigations, this novel treatment is currently under further evaluation in a new, prospective multicenter clinical trial. Please visit our website for further information about the study and directly contact the study team.
Further information concerning glioblastoma
Spine Surgery
In the field of "Neurosurgical Spine Surgery", our team of specialists deals with the diagnosis and therapy of the entire spectrum of spinal column diseases.
Special therapeutic and scientific expertise is available in the field of degenerative and tumour-related diseases of the spinal column and spinal cord. The optimum management of these diseases requires an interdisciplinary approach. To this end, we maintain close cooperation with the specialists of the University Hospital. The well-being of our patients is the first priority when we select the treatment method. The section of Spinal Neurosurgery at the University Hospital in Münster offers a modern, complete range of diagnostics and therapy at the highest level using minimally invasive techniques and state-of-the-art technology.
Vascular Neurosurgery
"Vascular neurosurgery" is a major focus in the area of sophisticated surgical services in our specialist field. The brain accounts for only about 2% of the weight of the body, but it takes up almost 25% of the total energy. In itself, this shows the importance of the brain for human life. If the brain is cut off from the energy supply for only a few minutes, irreversible damage such as a cerebral infarction occurs. The diagnosis and therapy of cerebral vascular diseases, some of which are very complex, requires good interdisciplinary cooperation.
At our section for Vascular Neurosurgery we therefore place great emphasis on close cooperation between neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuroradiologists and intensive care physicians for the well-being of the patient. This close cooperation is reflected, among other things, in the large number of referrals from all regions of the country.
