Brain Surgery: What Kennedy Experienced

from ABC News

Surgeons at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., report that Sen. Ted Kennedy is doing well after nearly four hours of surgery [yesterday] to remove a cancerous brain tumor.

For part of the surgery, the 76-year-old Massachusetts senator was awake and conscious, according to an Associated Press report. This relatively new and dramatic approach is being used by surgeons in cases when a malignant tumor isn't readily accessible on the surface of the brain.

So after cutting into Kennedy's skull, Dr. Allan Friedman—the surgeon wielding the scalpel—had to find a pathway through the brain to get at the tumor. For this he needed the patient's conscious help to avoid damaging brain cells essential for speech, movement and other important functions.

Science in the Media

Newspapers:

Magazines and Web Sites:

The Science-Media Intersection:

Science Blogs

Sign Up

... for Sigma Xi SmartBrief, a free daily summary of the latest news in scientific research, delivered straight to your in-box. Each story is summarized concisely and linked directly to the original source for further reading.

Click here to subscribe.

Subscribe to Our Content!

Visit our RSS Feeds page to choose among 13 customized feeds, or create a free My AmSci account to request an email notice whenever a specified author, department or discipline appears online.

EMAIL TO A FRIEND :

Of Possible Interest

Science In The News Daily: Diesel Exhausts Do Cause Cancer, Says WHO

Science in the News Weekly: T-DM1 Treats Breast Cancer With Fewer Side Effects

Science In The News Daily: CT Scans on Children 'Could Triple Brain Cancer Risk'