According to the AANS, Chiari malformation can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic several other conditions, and as a result, patients are often told that there is no physical problem. Chiari malformation is indeed a physical condition and getting a proper diagnosis is the first step on the path to finding treatment that may provide hope and relief.

A compelling paper, published in the September 2008 issue of Journal of Neurosurgery, offers insight into the predominately male world of neurosurgery. In 2007, the AANS recognized the need to take bold steps to recruit and retain more women in neurosurgery and requested that Women in Neurosurgery (WINS) author a white paper. AANS President James R. Bean, MD, is author of an accompanying editorial.

The number of people affected by cerebrovascular disease every year could fill one of the nation’s largest sports stadiums, the Rose Bowl, 10 times over, with many celebrity ticket holders. This disease is widespread and when celebrities are affected, this brings greater public awareness to this crucial health issue.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have demonstrated that living human nerve cells can be engineered into a network that could one day be used for transplants to repair damaged to the nervous system. They report their findings in the February issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

Neurological surgeons at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience are among the first surgeons in the United States using an FDA-approved liquid system for treating wide-necked brain aneurysms, which could eventually replace current treatments.

Renowned brain surgeon Dr. Dongwoo John Chang discusses why surviving an neurysm depends on getting the right treatment.

Brain surgeon John Dongwoo Chang, MD, discusses why brain tumors often defy our best treatments.

While recent advances in neurosurgery have made it possible to precisely target areas in the brain with minimum invasiveness -- using a small hole to insert a probe, needle or catheter -- there remains a disadvantage. The small size of the openings reduces or eliminates direct site visibility and requires greater dexterity, stability and precision by the surgeon.

Using magnetic resonance imaging, radiologists can better predict the likelihood of full or partial recovery of patients with acute spinal cord injuries (SCI), according to a study published in the June issue of the journal Radiology.