Neurosurgery

Glossary of common neurosurgery terms
 

Wondering what some of those words and phrases mean? Here’s a quick guide to neurosurgical terminology:

• acquired condition
  condition that develops during childhood (as opposed to being present at birth)
   
• angiography
  injection of a special dye into the blood vessels to make them visible on X-ray films
   
• arteriovenous malformation
  defect (often congenital) of blood vessels in the central nervous system, causing an abnormal “tangle” between the veins and arteries 
   
• atresia
  defect in, or absence of, an opening in the body (for example, aortic atresia—the absence of the normal valvular opening into the heart’s aorta)
   
• Baclofen Pump
  treatment for spasticity and pain caused by cerebral palsy. The pump, implanted by a neurosurgeon, delivers precisely measured dosages of the drug Baclofen directly to the child’s spinal fluid.
   
• biopsy
  removal of a piece of tissue for sampling and analysis purposes
   
• blood-brain barrier
  grouping of cells and blood vessels that acts as a protective shield between the brain and the blood flowing toward it
   
• cavernous malformation
  congenital defect of the blood vessels in the central nervous system, creating a compact mass of lesions
   
• cerebrospinal fluid
  clear fluid, produced in the ventricles (cavities) of the brain, that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord, serving to nourish and cleanse the nervous system while cushioning it from trauma
   
• choroid plexus cauterization
  procedure to treat hydrocephalus, using an electrical wire and minimally invasive surgical tools to burn away tissue in the brain's first and second ventricles and reduce production of cerebrospinal fluid
   
• clinical trial
  research study designed to gather new information about specific conditions, treatments, diagnostics or devices
   
• Computed Tomography (CT)
  non-invasive imaging method, using special X-ray technology to take detailed, three-dimensional pictures of bones, organs and other tissues
   
• congenital condition
  condition that is present at birth
   
• contracture
  muscle shortening in the limbs, often occurring in neuromuscular conditions such as cerebral palsy
   
• dissection
  tear within the wall of a blood vessel; may also refer to spinal cord dissection, a tear in the spinal cord
   
• effusion
  leakage and accumulation of fluid (for example, a subdural effusion, the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid or pus underneath the brain’s outer lining)
   
• electrode
  device (usually a small medical disk with attached wires) that transmits electric current to measure or record specific activity in the brain or other bodily tissue
   
• electroencephalography (EEG)
  procedure that records and analyzes brain wave patterns through electrodes placed on the scalp, transmitting data to a computer
   
• endoscopic third ventriculostomy
  minimally invasive procedure that uses an incision in the third ventricle of the brain to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid, providing an alternative to shunt placement for some children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida
   
• electromagnetic activity
  the brain’s natural creation of electromagnetic energy through its living cells
   
• epidural sensor
  small sensor placed into the epidural covering of the brain to monitor intracranial pressure
   
• gamma knife
  sophisticated radiation therapy tool that delivers high-energy bursts of radiation to a very specific area, sparing the healthy surrounding tissue
   
• high-grade tumor
  using a grading system that measures the progression of tumors, a high-grade tumor is the most malignant and aggressive type
   
• intracranial pressure
  pressure naturally occurring within the skull and in the balance of cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue
   
• intraventricular catheter
  thin, flexible tube inserted into one of the brain’s ventricles (cavities) for the purpose of measuring intracranial pressure
   
• linear accelerator
  machine using high-energy x-rays to effectively attack and shrink cancerous tumors
   
• low-grade tumor
  using a grading system that measures the progression of tumors, a low-grade tumor is the least aggressive type
   
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  technology that uses magnets, radio waves and computers to produce high-resolution images of bones, organs and other tissues
   
• minimally invasive techniques
  medical and surgical procedures that use miniaturized tools and cameras or telescopes, resulting in less pain, less scarring, and a quicker recovery time for patients
   
• myelography
  imaging technique that uses a needle inserted into the spinal canal to inject dye that is visible in real time, allowing the space around the spine to be photographed on X-ray film
   
• nervous system
  combined bodily tissues that transmit, record and “decode” electrical and chemical messages
   
• Partial Dorsal Rhizotomy (PDR)
  a specialized neurosurgical procedure used to treat spasticity caused by cerebral palsy. The surgery involves selectively cutting a section of the problematic nerve roots in the spinal cord.
   
• peritoneal cavity
  space between the abdomen’s organs and the abdominal wall
   
• pleural cavity
  space surrounding the lungs
   
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
  imaging technique that uses an injected isotope (a radioactive molecule); once the isotope begins to break down, it sets off a molecular reaction that allows for 3-D visualization of bodily processes
   
• progressive condition
  condition that grows worse in severity over time
   
• proton beam therapy
  use of a beam of protons (subatomic particles) to efficiently “blast” tumors while sparing surrounding, healthy tissue
   
• radiation therapy or radiotherapy
  use of radiation to control and stop the spread of cancerous cells
   
• shunt
  thin tube installed under the skin to drain off excess fluid and reduce pressure
   
• subarachnoid screw/bolt
  screw or bolt inserted into the space between the skull’s arachnoid membrane and the brain’s cerebral cortex; used to measure intracranial pressure
   
• subspecialty
  narrow field within a certain medical discipline
   
• thrombosis
  a clot within a blood vessel, impeding the flow of blood through the body’s circulatory system
   
• transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  sudden change in the supply of blood to a particular part of the brain, causing neurological symptoms that last for less than 24 hours; also referred to as a “mini-stroke”
   
• vagus nerve
  one of ten cranial nerves, and perhaps the most important; originates in the medulla oblongata of the brain and furnishes nerve fibers that help control the throat, lungs, heart, esophagus and most of the intestinal tract
   
• ventricle
  one of four cavities in the brain, connecting with the central spinal cord canal