Experiences of Lasermicrosurgery for removal of brain tumor

Abstract

Twenty eight brain tumors, i. e. nine meningiomas, eight gliomas, two cavernomas, two teratomas, one edipermoid, two pituitary adenomas, two acoustic neurinomas, one hemangioblastoma and one metastatic brain tumor, were removed by laser microsurgery. As the laser surgical apparatuses, cavitron AO-300 and Medilaser were used. The operative microscope was Zeiss 1. Since the laser beam occluded small vessels no more than 1 mm in outside diameter, relatively bloodless removal of the brain tumors could be performed. Laser microsurgery is effective in the removal of such tumors as follows; 1) vascular rich tumors, 2) deeply seated and non-suckable tumors, and 3) relatively large tumors. At present, there are slight restraints in free movement of the operative microscope and also in the operative field caused by attached laser manipulator. This should be resolved in future.