Our dedicated neurosurgery hospital combines leading-edge operating rooms with specialized nursing staff.
Acoustic neuroma
Acoustic neuromas are nonmalignant fibrous growths developing from the balance nerve in the inner ear. While spreading to other parts of the body is rare, they constitute 6-10% of all brain tumors. Most of these growths appear in only one ear. They’re located deep inside the skull and near vital brain centers. Each year, UF Health treats several acoustic neuromas, also known as vestibular schwannomas.
Learn more about acoustic neuromas.
Cushing’s disease
Cushing’s disease occurs when the pituitary gland releases an excessive amount of adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH. The tumor’s overproduction of ACTH leads to the adrenal gland making too much cortisol. This often leads to diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, osteoporosis or other serious issues.
Learn more about Cushing’s disease.
Encephalocele/CSF Leak
An encephalocele is a birth defect appearing near the brain and spinal cord. It’s characterized by a leak of the brain and membranes that protrudes through a gap in the skull. The sac-like protrusion it creates can appear on the nose, ear, or back of the head. Encephaloceles can leak cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, from around the brain. CSF leaks appear as clear, watery drainage from the nose or ears, or as postnasal drip. CSF leaks may contribute to hearing loss, dizziness and headaches.
Learn more about encephaloceles.
Endoscopic skull base surgery
There are two types of skull base surgeries: traditional (open) and endoscopic. Endoscopic skull base surgery is a minimally invasive procedure. Small tools pass through the skull to see, repair and remove structures in the skull base.
This approach allows surgeons to perform complex procedures more precisely and with less morbidity. Surgeons can also perform the procedure through the nostrils, leaving no visible incision.
Learn more about endoscopic skull base surgery.
Meningioma
Meningiomas account for about 20-30% of primary brain tumors (i.e., tumors that originate in the head). There are about 20,000 primary brain tumors diagnosed in the U.S. each year. These tumors do not originate from the brain tissue itself. They arise from the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The UF Health Comprehensive Skull Base Surgery Center works to manage these complex tumors using leading-edge surgical techniques. These include endoscopic approaches, radiation strategies and novel medical therapies.
Pediatric skull base services
In close collaboration with UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, our distinguished pediatric neuromedicine program provides care for patients from birth to age 21, as well as select adults with congenital neurological disorders.
The UF Health Comprehensive Skull Base Surgery Center in Gainesville specializes in treating pediatric patients with pituitary and skull base conditions.
Learn more about our pediatric skull base services.
Pituitary tumor
The pituitary gland, or “master gland,” is located at the base of the brain and releases substances. These substances govern the basic functions of growth, metabolism and reproduction. An acorn-sized tumor in the pituitary gland can trigger symptoms in several ways. Symptoms include releasing too much or too little of a hormone and growing pressure against structures around the gland, such as the nerves and eyes. UF Health performs over 50 pituitary operations each year, totaling more than 1,100 to date.
Learn more about pituitary tumors.
Prolactinoma
A prolactinoma is a noncancerous (benign) pituitary tumor that produces a hormone called prolactin. This hormone triggers the breasts to produce milk (lactation), leading to elevated prolactin levels in the blood. Prolactinoma is the most common type of pituitary tumor (adenoma) that produces a hormone. It makes up about 30% of all pituitary adenomas. Almost all pituitary tumors are noncancerous.
Learn more about prolactinoma.
Sinonasal tumors
It can be difficult for those with benign and malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and sinuses to recognize them. These tumors often have minimal or nonspecific symptoms until the tumor enlarges and involves adjacent structures such as the orbit and skull base. These tumors are rare, making up just 3% of all head and neck cancers. However, they require highly specialized care.
Due to the complex, multidisciplinary nature of their treatment, not all centers can effectively treat these tumors. However, high-volume centers like UF Health are uniquely equipped to manage both benign and malignant sinonasal tumors. Our team has extensive experience with these uncommon conditions, including the most challenging and advanced cases. Care is delivered in close collaboration with otolaryngology, neurosurgery and medical and radiation oncology to provide comprehensive, coordinated treatment.
Stereotactic radiosurgery
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a form of radiation therapy that focuses precise, high-energy X-rays on a small area of the body. Although it’s called radiosurgery, it’s not a surgical procedure in the traditional sense, as there is no incision. As a radiation therapy technique, SRS uses 3D imaging to deliver high doses of radiation to the intended area while minimizing impact on surrounding healthy tissue. The standards that UF has developed for accuracy, quality assurance, patient follow-up, dosing, etc., have become the global standard. At the national level, we’ve also developed novel radiosurgery equipment and treatment paradigms used across the country.
Learn more about stereotactic radiosurgery.
Transsphenoidal surgery
The most common way to remove pituitary tumors is through transsphenoidal surgery. These procedures are performed through the sphenoid sinus, a hollow space in the skull behind the nasal passages and below the brain. One advantage of this minimally invasive procedure is that the brain is not touched at all, so brain damage is highly unlikely. There are also fewer side effects and no visible scar.