How surgery works and how approaches differ

For a tumor growing within the spinal cord, surgery aims to remove tumor tissue while preserving nerve function. Electrical monitoring during the operation checks pathways involved in movement and sensation. Combining movement and sensory monitoring can identify neurological problems more accurately than either type alone. For tumors inside the spinal covering but outside the cord itself, minimally invasive and conventional open approaches have been compared. These are different anatomical situations, not interchangeable treatment choices. In meningioma surgery, fluorescence guidance uses a substance called 5-ALA to help make tumor tissue visible during removal.

Sources (4)

Methods and what the numbers show

Other methods with evidence

Method	What it is	What the numbers show
Removal of all visible tumour	The surgeon aims to remove all tumour that can be seen during the operation or on imaging. — WHO grade III malignant meningioma	overall survival: 0.54 HR (gross total resection) vs (subtotal resection); n=2,208 patients (study) [2]
Heating tumour tissue with a laser	A laser probe placed inside the tumour heats and destroys targeted tissue. — recurrent glioblastomas	progression-free survival: 25% (laser interstitial thermal therapy); 6 months [3]
Focused radiation treatment	Focused beams deliver radiation to a defined tumour target.
Precisely targeted radiation treatment	Stereotactic imaging guides focused radiation beams to the tumour.
Complete tumour removal	The surgeon aims to remove the whole tumour rather than leave a visible remainder. — WHO grade III malignant meningioma	overall survival: 0.54 HR (gross total resection) vs (subtotal resection); n=2,208 patients (study) [2]

When surgery may help and what alternatives to discuss

One treatment discussion concerns how to reach the tumor while limiting disturbance of nearby nerves. For spinal tumors outside the cord but inside its covering, minimally invasive surgery is an alternative to an open approach. For adults having a tumor removed through the back of the neck without spinal fixation, younger age, removal of bone at the second neck vertebra and surgery across more vertebral levels are associated with later spinal deformity or instability. Stabilizing the spine during tumor removal may therefore be considered in selected patients.

Sources (2)

Expected outcomes and limits of the evidence

For tumors outside the spinal cord but inside its covering, a 2022 review compared 149 patients having minimally invasive surgery with 153 having open surgery across seven studies. During surgery and the hospital stay, the minimally invasive group had less blood loss, shorter operations and shorter stays. Rates of complete removal and surgical or medical complications were similar. These findings concern that tumor location and do not establish the better approach for tumors growing within the cord.

Evidence about tranexamic acid, a medicine used to reduce surgical bleeding, is mixed for meningioma removal. A 2024 review covering 781 patients found lower blood loss during surgery, with substantial variation between studies. A separate 2024 randomized trial of 600 patients having meningioma surgery in the upper part of the brain found no significant reduction in bleeding with a single dose. Neither comparison establishes long-term tumor control.

Sources (3)

Risks to discuss with your surgeon

Surgery within the spinal cord carries a risk of problems with movement or sensation after the operation. Monitoring studies distinguish temporary from persistent movement problems; electrical monitoring helps detect risk rather than guaranteeing preserved function.

Seizures are one early risk after meningioma removal. In a randomized trial involving 600 patients having surgery for a meningioma in the upper part of the brain, seizures occurred within seven days in 13 of 300 patients given tranexamic acid (4.3%) and 11 of 300 given saline (3.7%). Those figures describe the trial groups, not an individual’s predicted risk. Other reported problems after meningioma surgery include headache and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Sources (4)

Recovery and follow-up care

Early recovery after meningioma surgery can involve monitoring headaches and leakage of the fluid surrounding the brain. After tumor removal through the back of the neck without spinal fixation, follow-up also needs to check for changes in spinal alignment and stability. This is particularly relevant after surgery involving the second neck vertebra or several vertebral levels, and in younger adults.

Sources (2)

Explore surgery and care teams

Specialists and their operations

Israel · 4 entries

Specialist	Clinic	Operations and experience	Ask about treatment
Zvi Ram	Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) Tel Aviv, Israel	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 1989	Ask about treatment
Professor Shimon Rochkind	Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) Tel Aviv, Israel	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1979	Ask about treatment
Shlomi Constantini	Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) Tel Aviv, Israel	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1984	Ask about treatment
Anton Wohl	Sheba Medical Center Ramat Gan, Israel	Removal of meningioma In practice since 2004	Ask about treatment

Germany · 1 entries

Specialist	Clinic	Operations and experience	Ask about treatment
Ralf Buhl	Medical Center in Solingen Solingen, Germany	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1998	Ask about treatment

Spain · 2 entries

Specialist	Clinic	Operations and experience	Ask about treatment
Bartolome Oliver	Centro Médico Teknon Barcelona, Spain	Removal of meningioma In practice since 1976	Ask about treatment
Nnamdi Elenwoke	Centro Médico Teknon Barcelona, Spain	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2007	Ask about treatment

Turkey · 1–12 of 19 entries

Specialist	Clinic	Operations and experience	Ask about treatment
Baran Yılmaz	Istinye University Liv Hospital Bahcesehir Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor	Ask about treatment
Salih Murat Imer	Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 1985	Ask about treatment
Erkan Kaptanoglu	Estexper Clinic Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1992	Ask about treatment
Ahmet Karkucak	Büyük Anadolu Hospitals (BAH International) Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2019	Ask about treatment
Ramazan Sari	Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2004	Ask about treatment
Melih Uc	Valued Med Hub Hospitals Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 2007	Ask about treatment
Hasan Ozgur Ozdemir	Medical Park Antalya Hospital Complex Antalya, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2002	Ask about treatment
Ramazan Uyar	Medical Park Antalya Hospital Complex Antalya, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 1991	Ask about treatment
Ertugrul Pinar	Hisar Hospital Intercontinental Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2016	Ask about treatment
Tuncay Kaner	Medical Park Bahcelievler Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1989	Ask about treatment
Kenan Kibici	Medical Park Bahcelievler Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 1993	Ask about treatment
Ibrahim Ziyal	Memorial Göztepe Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of meningioma In practice since 1996	Ask about treatment

Turkey · 13–19 of 19 entries

Specialist	Clinic	Operations and experience	Ask about treatment
Mehmet Aydogan	Memorial Şişli Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1950	Ask about treatment
Ahmet Hilmi Kaya	Anadolu Medical Center Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 1996	Ask about treatment
Emad Abdallah	Turan Turan Health Group Bursa, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2012	Ask about treatment
Ayhan Kara	Central Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1991	Ask about treatment
Tansu Gursoy	Optimed International Hospital Tekirdag, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 2009	Ask about treatment
Mehmet Hakan Sahin	Atlas University Hospital Istanbul, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 2010	Ask about treatment
Abdullah Emre Tacyildiz	Optimed International Hospital Tekirdag, Turkey	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2012	Ask about treatment

Romania · 1 entries

Specialist	Clinic	Operations and experience	Ask about treatment
Alexandru Cristescu	Ponderas Academic Hospital Bucharest, Romania	Removal of spinal cord tumor; Removal of meningioma In practice since 2010	Ask about treatment

Republic of Korea · 2 entries

Specialist	Clinic	Operations and experience	Ask about treatment
Sangwon Hwang	Leadheal Hospital Seoul, Republic of Korea	Removal of spinal cord tumor In practice since 1996	Ask about treatment
Han Yeongmin	NAEUN HOSPITAL Incheon, Republic of Korea	Removal of meningioma In practice since 1990	Ask about treatment

Sources (29)

Programmes and prices

Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital · 1 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Cyst Drainage & Steroid Implementation	Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital	USD 10000Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Cyst Drainage & Steroid Implementation Included: Consultation with a neurosurgeon Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Additional activities not included Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Anadolu Medical Center · 2 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Consultations + Treatment program : radiotherapy	Anadolu Medical Center	USD 1360Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Consultations + Treatment program : radiotherapy Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Included: Transfer airport-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Thoracic Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor Resection with Laminoplasty and Neurophysiological Monitoring	Anadolu Medical Center	USD 18000Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Thoracic Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor Resection with Laminoplasty and Neurophysiological Monitoring Included: Brain tumor removal Included: Brain tumor surgery Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Included: General anesthesia Included: Consultation with an anesthesiologist Included: Medical Examination for pre-operation Included: Medications Included: Post-op medications Included: Electrocardiogram (ECG) Included: Hospitalization Included: Transfer airport-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Stay: 6 days in the hospital Additional source terms: This procedure is designed for thoracic intramedullary spinal cord tumors and performed using microsurgical techniques to safely remove the lesion while preserving spinal cord function. Thoracic laminoplasty is performed to maintain spinal stability, and continuous neurophysiological monitoring enhances surgical safety. Advanced microsurgical equipment supports controlled tumor excision, followed by structured postoperative monitoring and early recovery planning. Included Services Neurosurgery consultation and treatment planning Thoracic intramedullary tumor excision Thoracic laminoplasty (2 levels) Neurophysiological monitoring Standard pathological examination Anesthesia services All surgical materials and medications 1 night intensive care unit (ICU) stay 5 days ward hospitalization Accompanying person accommodation included Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Valued Med Hub Hospitals · 1 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Neuromonitor-guided AVM or Tumor excision	Valued Med Hub Hospitals	USD 27000Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Neuromonitor-guided AVM or Tumor excision Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Included: AVM Embolization Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Memorial Göztepe Hospital · 4 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Convexity Tumor Resection	Memorial Göztepe Hospital	USD 24520Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Convexity Tumor Resection Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 4 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.)	Memorial Göztepe Hospital	USD 26440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.) Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 3 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy)	Memorial Göztepe Hospital	USD 28440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy) Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 6 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
skull base tumor Surgery	Memorial Göztepe Hospital	USD 40000Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes skull base tumor Surgery Included: Removal of meningioma Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Excluded: Transfer is not included Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Memorial Şişli Hospital · 3 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Convexity Tumor Resection	Memorial Şişli Hospital	USD 24520Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Convexity Tumor Resection Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 4 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.)	Memorial Şişli Hospital	USD 26440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.) Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 3 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy)	Memorial Şişli Hospital	USD 28440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy) Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 6 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital · 3 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Convexity Tumor Resection	Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital	USD 24520Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Convexity Tumor Resection Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 4 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.)	Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital	USD 26440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.) Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 3 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy)	Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital	USD 28440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy) Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 6 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Memorial Ataşehir Hospital · 3 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Convexity Tumor Resection	Memorial Ataşehir Hospital	USD 24520Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Convexity Tumor Resection Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 4 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.)	Memorial Ataşehir Hospital	USD 26440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Parasagittal Tumor Resection (Interhemispheric, Tentorial Region, etc.) Included: Removal of meningioma Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 3 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment
Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy)	Memorial Ataşehir Hospital	USD 28440Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Removal of Lumbar Intramedullary Spinal Tumor (Including Laminectomy) Included: Removal of spinal cord tumor Included: Transfer airport-hotel-clinic-airport Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Hotel Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Stay: 6 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Ponderas Academic Hospital · 1 entries

Public programme	Clinic	Recorded price	Programme details	Request a quote
Complex Brain Tumor Resection	Ponderas Academic Hospital	USD 17909.53Bookimed offer, Oct 2026	What the programme includes Complex Brain Tumor Resection Included: Removal of meningioma Excluded: Airfare Excluded: Additional activities not included Excluded: Accommodation is not included Excluded: Transfer is not included Stay: 4 days in the hospital Read the public programme source	Ask about treatment

Brain and spinal cord tumors: surgery and treatment options

Brain and spinal cord tumors: surgery and treatment options

How surgery works and how approaches differ

Methods and what the numbers show

Other methods with evidence

When surgery may help and what alternatives to discuss

Expected outcomes and limits of the evidence

Risks to discuss with your surgeon

Recovery and follow-up care

Explore surgery and care teams

Specialists and their operations

Programmes and prices

References and further reading

Request a treatment proposal

Ask about treatment

Related oncologic guides

Turn information into your next step.