Penn Medicine Neurosciences provides comprehensive neurology and neurosurgery services for patients outside of the United States. Whether you are seeking initial diagnosis, treatment for a diagnosis, or a remote second opinion, our experienced staff is dedicated to meeting your health care needs.
Our neuroscience program has experts in neurology, neurosurgery, neurodiagnostics, neuropsychology, neuro-ophthalmology and psychiatry. We treat diseases of the brain, spine and peripheral nervous system including tumors, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Our neurosurgeons are nationally renowned as "Top Doctors" for their skill, innovation, expertise and performance of more than 5,000 operations each year.
Penn Medicine has a robust research program and is the region’s only participant in the National Cancer Institute-funded New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy (NABTT) Consortium, allowing access to new clinical trials.
Neuroscience conditions and treatments
Penn Medicine Neurosurgery diagnoses and treats patients who have complex brain and spinal disorders. Our neurosurgeons diagnose and perform the following:
- Brain tumors—Penn Medicine is nationally recognized for innovative therapy of benign and malignant tumors in the brain, as well as metastatic cancer that originates outside of the brain. Surgery is the treatment of choice for brain tumors that can be removed without causing major neurological problems. We perform surgical procedures such as awake craniotomies, radiosurgery using the Cyberknife and Gamma Knife, IMRT and proton therapy. Penn Medicine also provides cancer services for malignant brain tumors and is leading a research investigation with a fluorescent dye that causes cancer cells to illuminate under special lighting, allowing surgeons to remove all cancerous tissue.
- Cranial base surgery—Penn Medicine is the Philadelphia region’s leading center for the evaluation and treatment of tumors of the head, neck and face, as well as other complex skull base disorders. Many cranial base disorders or pituitary tumors can be surgically treated or removed through the sinus cavity. We also perform advanced microscopic, laser and ultrasound techniques on certain types of tumors that are buried deep within the base of the skull.
- Cranial nerve disorders—Many international patients suffering from cranial nerve disorders turn to Penn Medicine for the most advanced treatment options. We perform surgical treatments for cranial nerve disorders using techniques including Gamma Knife Perfexion, microvascular decompression, supra orbital and infra orbital peripheral nerve stimulation and percutaneous glycerol rhizotomy.
- Deep brain stimulation—Our neurosurgeons are pioneers in the use of deep brain stimulation, a breakthrough surgical treatment for patients with movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, tremor from multiple sclerosis or other causes, dystonia and epilepsy. Penn Medicine is one of the largest treatment centers in the United States for deep brain stimulation.
- Neurovascular surgery—Penn Medicine specializes in endovascular neurosurgery, where a neurosurgeon can insert a microcatheter through a small incision in the femoral artery in the leg, or the brachial artery in the arm, and then thread it into the brain to access and treat the vessel problem or malformation.
- Peripheral nerve disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome or traumatic nerve injury—It is important to see a specialist with a good understanding of peripheral nerve disorders to make an accurate diagnosis. Our specialists have a comprehensive understanding of the nervous system and the interaction of these nerves on structure and function. Once a diagnosis has been made, our surgeons will repair the nerves so that function is restored to the affected part of the body.
- Pituitary tumors—If you are diagnosed with a pituitary tumor, we recommend you see a pituitary endocrinologist. Penn Medicine is the only facility in the region with dedicated pituitary endocrinologists. In many facilities, you may have to wait weeks between seeing an endocrinologist and a pituitary surgeon. We offer a full range of advanced techniques and therapies available today to treat a pituitary tumor—no matter its size, location or complexity.
- Seizures and epilepsy—If you have epilepsy that is not cured by medication, we offer many surgical options that include minimally invasive surgery, implantable devices, ablations and traditional open surgery to remove the seizure site.
- Spine surgery—Our neurosurgeons treat spine conditions including spinal cord injuries, sciatica, scoliosis, herniated discs, degenerative disease, spinal deformities, spinal tumors and spinal stenosis. We provide both surgical and non-surgical treatments for spinal conditions. We use minimally invasive approaches, intraoperative monitoring and computer-assisted surgical navigation systems.
At Penn Medicine Neurology, we diagnose and treat patients with basic and complex neurological disorders. Established in 1871, we are the oldest neurology department in the United States and have developed important treatments and neurodiagnostic techniques. The Penn Epilepsy Center is recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a Level 4 epilepsy center. Level 4 epilepsy centers have the professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest-level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.
The Penn Stroke Center is a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. As a comprehensive center, patients who have suffered a stroke have access to the most advanced resources available for the treatment of stroke. After experiencing a stroke, it’s important to have a team of experts who will develop an individualized recovery plan and will do everything possible to prevent another stroke from happening.
Our neurologists diagnose and treat the following conditions:
- Memory loss and dementia
- Movement disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Neuro-oncology
- Neuro-ophthalmology
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Sleep disorders
- Stroke