Neurosurgery
Frederick Lang, M.D.
Department Chair
The goal of the Neurosurgery department is to eliminate all tumors of the nervous system, including those of the brain, spine, spinal cord, skull base, and peripheral and cranial nerves, through compassionate and expert neurosurgical care, pioneering research, education, and outreach. The Neurosurgery department at MD Anderson is considered one of the best neurosurgical programs in the country. We treat patients from all over the world and are dedicated to research-driven innovations that revolutionize patient care.
The Neurosurgery department is comprised of clinical operations, educational programs, and ground-breaking research efforts. These pillars support our collaborations with multi-disciplinary teams in the mission to eliminate cancer.
Neurosurgical Cases (Fiscal Year 2024)
1,746
Total Neurosurgical Cases
1,169
Cranial Cases
229
Skull Base Cases
276
Spine Cases
422
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Cases
Clinical Programs
Our clinical operations are divided into the Cranial section, the Skull Base section, and the Spine section, which house several programs.
- The Cranial section is devoted to the treatment of primary and metastatic tumors of the brain in both adults and children, including glioblastomas, astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, brain metastases, intraventricular tumors, pineal region tumors, thalamic and brainstem tumors, using state-of-the-art approaches such as awake craniotomy, intraoperative brain mapping, intraoperative MRI, laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), as well as Gamma Knife Radiosurgery and endovascular neurosurgical oncology.
- The Skull Base section focuses on both open and endoscopic surgical procedures for complex tumors of the skull base, including specialized programs in meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, pituitary tumors, chordomas/chondrosarcomas and malignant skull base tumors. In addition to best-in-class surgical approaches, our surgeons are experts in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery treatments for skull base tumors.
- The Spine section manages all types of tumors of the spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves with unique expertise in primary tumors of the spine, particularly primary tumors of the sacrum, as well as metastatic spine tumors, intradural and intramedullary tumors. Our surgeons have specialized expertise in advanced technologies such as image-guided surgery, including minimally invasive spine stabilization and spinal LITT, which our surgeons pioneered at MD Anderson. In addition, there are specialized programs in peripheral nerve tumors and cancer pain management.
Within each of our specialties, neurosurgery patients receive care from a multidisciplinary team that includes highly skilled neurosurgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists who provide personalized care and treatment plans. Our advanced practice providers support our neurosurgeons with dedicated inpatient and outpatient teams.
Our advanced operating technologies include the BrainSuite, a specialized operating room with a large bore Siemens Espree (1.5-tesla magnet) MRI and an image-guided management system; the Intraoperative CT Suite, which houses intraoperative computerized tomography within the operating room; and a Hybrid Operating Room with Biplane Endovascular Technology that provides high-definition, real-time, 3D-imaging of brain and tumor blood vessels. Our team also provides the full range of stereotactic radiosurgery with a specialized program in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.
Research Programs
Our clinical research team manages multiple clinical interventional trials, prospective observational studies and laboratory study protocols. The clinical research team also oversees a valuable database dedicated to collecting and storing data related to neurosurgical cases, which provides extensive information for research and operational purposes.
Our basic and translational research scientists are housed in the Basic Science Research Building with state-of-the-art laboratory technologies. Our scientists explore the basic biological mechanisms underlying the development and growth of primary and metastatic CNS tumors and novel therapeutics for CNS tumors, including oncolytic viruses, targeted agents, immunotherapies and combinatorial approaches with radiation and standard chemotherapy. Our multidisciplinary research teams are funded through multiple federal and state grants, including the NIH-funded Brain Cancer SPORE.
Educational Programs
2024-2025 Neurosurgical Oncology Fellows
From left to right:
Gil Kimchi, M.D. (Spine)
Sophie Peeters, M.D. (Skull Base)
Kevin Cross, M.D. (Research)
Franziska Loebel, M.D.
Michelle Williams, M.D.
Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship
Our Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship, established in 1991, trains young neurosurgeons to become world-class neurosurgical oncologists and currently offers four neurosurgical oncology fellowship positions and one specialized skull base fellowship position each year. We have trained over 80 fellows, many of whom are presently leading major neurosurgical oncology programs across the country and around the world.
Neurosurgery clinical faculty members are widely recognized for their expertise in primary and metastatic brain tumor surgery, pituitary adenoma surgery, skull base surgery, spinal reconstructive surgery, surgical procedures for pain management, pediatric neurosurgery and stereotactic surgery. The department performs more than 1,900 brain, spine and skull base surgeries yearly.
Learn more about the Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship.
Neurosurgical Residency Program
MD Anderson is one of five hospitals that receive residents from the Baylor College of Medicine Neurosurgery Residency Program.
It has a history as one of the largest and most respected neurosurgery training programs in the U.S.
The residency program was founded and nationally accredited in 1958 and has been continuously funded and accredited yearly.
Learn more about the Baylor College of Medicine Neurosurgery Residency Program.
News and Tech
Hybrid Operating Room (OR) with Biplane Endovascular Technology
This state-of-the-art technology improves patient care and meets the evolving needs of MD Anderson’s surgical, interventional radiology and cardiology needs.
The biplane uses rotating cameras to provide high-definition imaging to produce real-time, three-dimensional images of blood vessels and soft tissue. After the body is injected with contrast fluid, the biplane can provide specific localization of a disease or lesion.
The biplane is incredibly precise, making surgery even safer and allowing patients to experience faster recovery. Having the unit in the OR provides for hybrid open surgical and angiographic procedures.
A specialized operating room with intraoperative computerized tomography (IOCT) opened at MD Anderson in the spring of 2016. Our spine surgeons helped design the IOCT suite, complete with a custom surgical table and mobile CT scanner that can move on rails to scan the patient in the operating position during surgery. The technology in this room allows our spine surgeons to operate with even better accuracy.
The Brainsuite® is a neurological operating room with a large bore Siemens Espree (1.5-tesla magnet) MRI and an image-guided management system to give surgeons an improved perspective on the progress of complex neurological surgeries. It is only one of two such systems in the state of Texas. The Brainsuite® can help reduce the need for patients to undergo additional surgeries.
Related Resources
Patient Stories and Relevant Reading
3 common brain tumor symptoms
5 meningioma questions, answered
6 common brain tumor questions
Contact Us
Phone and fax
Academic Office: 713-792-2400
Brain and Spine Center: 713-792-6600
Fax: 713-794-4950
Physical address
The Neurosurgery department is located on the 7th floor of the John Mendelsohn Faculty Center. Get customized directions using our Access system.
1400 Holcombe Boulevard
Room FC7.2000, Unit 442
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Mailing address
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Neurosurgery department
P.O. Box 301402-442
Houston, TX 77230-1402