Michael S.B. Edwards, MD
Lucile Packard Endowed Professor of NeurosurgeryAppointment by courtesy, Pediatrics
Co-Director Children's Brain Tumor Center
Vice Chair, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Treating Childhood Diseases of the Brain and Spine from Malignant Tumors to Head Trauma
Childhood malignancies of the central nervous system continue to be one of the most common cancers that afflict children. As director of Stanford's Pediatric Neurosurgery Program, Dr. Edwards has established an exceptional service and is recognized by his peers as one of the country's most respected pediatric neurosurgeons. Dr. Edwards specializes in the advanced microsurgical treatment of all forms of benign and malignant central nervous system tumors. These include: gliomas and medulloblastomas, brain stem gliomas, astrocytomas, pituitary tumors and pineal region tumors. Minimally invasive techniques are preferred, allowing for miniature exposures of the brain and spinal cord. Endoscopic neurosurgical techniques and advanced targeting methods such as intraoperative neuroimaging, brain mapping and monitoring are used to enhance tumor removal while minimizing risks to the patient. LPCH was also the first hospital in the nation to offer CyberKnife Radiosurgery for pediatric brain tumors, a non-invasive technique that utilizes high doses of precisely controlled radiation to treat brain and spine tumors. The clinical Neuro-Oncology Program headed by Paul G. Fisher, M.D. and Dr. Edwards offers state of the art treatment for newly diagnosed and recurrent CNS tumors. Many of these novel therapies are offered to patients through the enrollment into clinical trials including institutional protocols, as well as participation in the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).
Mapping Epilepsy in the Brain To Assist Surgery
Children with medically intractable epilepsy are jointly managed by Dr. Edwards and his team of specialists in cooperation with the pediatric epilepsy group, led by Donald Olson MD, based at the Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (SCEC) and LPCH. The new neuroimaging center dedicated to pediatric imaging uses the high field 3 Tesla MRI incorporating functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging and white matter tractography, along with magnetoencephalography (MEG), Phase II intracranial monitoring and functional mapping to study critical brain regions and their connections prior to surgery.Head trauma is the leading cause of death in the United States in children over one year of age, and brain and spinal cord injury accounts for more than 80% of them. Pediatric brain injuries carry a high emotional, psychosocial and economic impact because these patients often have comparatively long hospital stays with demanding systemic complications from their injuries. Dr. Edwards and the pediatric team are highly trained to diagnose and treat all forms of neurologic trauma, as well.
In addition, the Multidisciplinary Prenatal Diagnostic Program at LPCH combines the expertise of Perinatology, Neonatology, Obstetrics, Genetics, in utero MRI Imaging, and Pediatric Neurosurgery to provide consultation and treatment to mothers and families who are diagnosed with an in utero CNS abnormality.
Both good articles:
http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2009/october/patient-edwards-1005.html
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2004/july7/med-edwards-77.html
