Welcome to the Department of Neurosurgery

Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Department of Neurosurgery provides comprehensive surgical care for adult and pediatric patients with primary and metastatic tumors of the central nervous system and spine, as well as for MSK patients who have benign degenerative spine problems.

• Our neurosurgeons care for more than 2,000 brain and spine patients each year.
• Our team of physicians and nurses benefit from state-of-the-art technologies and years of specialized experience to offer the highest quality of care to all patients.
• Our neurosurgeons collaborate with neurological, medical, and radiation -oncologists as well as rehabilitation and pain experts to offer fully integrated multidisciplinary programs.
• The Department of Neurosurgery offers telehealth options to all patients, but we also offer a second opinion program to assist patients and their doctors in making the best treatment decisions by providing a written report. All consultations and appointments are provided within 48 hours of completing your request.
• As leaders in brain and spine cancer clinical care, we also provide excellent training and educational opportunities, and conduct cutting edge research in stem cells and brain cancer biology.

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Our Providers

Advancing Spinal Metastasis Care Through Genomic Insights
Building on a legacy of pioneering and validating advances in spinal metastasis care, neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) Multidisciplinary Spine Tumor Service have been investigating the clinical utility of genomic data as the next frontier for improving patient outcomes.

First in human clinical trial of cryopreserved stem-cell derived dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s disease
We have recently published n Cell Stem Cell preclinical data in support of the role of human stem cell-derived dopamine grafts in restoring motor deficits in Parkinson’s disease. A clinical trial ;is now open at MSK. For more information, email PDstemcelltrial@mskcc.org. The work is also highlighted in Nature Outlook.

Mark Souweidane, MD Honored as Hometown Hero for Pioneering New Treatment for DIPG
Mark Souweidane, MD, pediatric neurosurgeon, is pioneering a technique to treat DIPG by delivering chemotherapeutic agents directly to this inoperable brain-stem tumor. He is dedicated to finding a cure for this rare disease.

Durable 5-year local control for resected brain metastases with early adjuvant SRS: the effect of timing on intended-field control 
Durable 5-year local control for resected brain metastases with early adjuvant SRS: the effect of timing on intended-field control
We are honored to have this manuscript selected as “Editor’s Choice” by Neuro-Oncology Practice.

Melanoma brain metastasis presentation, treatment, and outcomes in the age of targeted and immunotherapies
Introduction of immunotherapy and targeted precision medicines has improved advanced melanoma survival.

The effect of surgery on radiation necrosis in irradiated brain metastases: extent of resection and long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes
We found resection of radiation necrosis conferred durable T2-FLAIR reduction and correlated with EOR and reduced steroid dependency. 

Update on the Treatment of Pituitary Tumors
Friday, April 5, 2024 (Virtual); Approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
After completion of this didactic and case-based educational activity, participants will be up to date on the latest developments in ongoing basic and translational science as well as the clinical management of patients with pituitary conditions.

Spine tumor surgery more effective than ever
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center determined patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastases have demonstrated a significant improvement in survival of 20% over the past 20 years which is also associated with improved quality of life.

The integration of stereotactic radiosurgery is changing treatment paradigms for chordoma
The treatment of chordoma with high-dose stereotactic radiosurgery (24-Gy single fraction) results in over 90% 5-year local tumor control regardless of timing or the extent of surgery.  

Less invasive short-segment constructs are durable and reduce morbidity in spine-tumor reconstruction
The recent FDA approval of cement augmented pedicle screw fixation has been used by investigators at MSKCC to shorten the length of instrumented tumor- reconstruction. Cement augmentation overcomes osteoporosis and adjacent segment progression without any change in construct failures which remain at approximately 3%.

Treating oligometastatic spine disease with ablative stereotactic radiosurgery reduces the development of distant metastases
A prospective study of oligometastatic bone disease demonstrated better local tumor control and decreased distant metastases treated with 24-Gy single fraction compared to 27 Gy in 3 fractions.