Surgeons reached deep brain tumors through a very small skull opening
Original title: Burr Hole Microsurgical Transsylvian Approach for Insular Gliomas.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This was tried in only 6 people, and it is not standard care yet.
The short version
Doctors removed deep brain tumors through one small hole in the skull instead of a large opening.
What was studied. Surgeons followed 6 patients who had brain tumors called gliomas in the insula, a deep part of the brain. Each patient had surgery through a single 14-mm hole in the skull.
What they found. The surgeons removed more than 90% of the tumor in all 6 patients. Before surgery, seizures were the most common problem, seen in 2 patients. One patient had weakness on one side of the body in the first 24 hours after surgery. The surgery took 101 minutes on average.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This small opening may be one way to reach tumors that sit deep in the brain. If you are facing surgery, you can ask your surgeon what approach they plan to use and why. The best choice depends on where your tumor sits.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a cure, and it is not proof that the small opening is better or safer. Only 6 people had this surgery, which is far too few to know how well it works. This is an early report from one group of surgeons. Most hospitals still use the usual, larger opening. Much larger studies are needed before this becomes normal care.
Source: PubMed, September 25, 2026 · Read the original
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