Walter Reed’s Skull Base Team Performs Innovative Brain Surgery
BLUF – Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s multidisciplinary Skull Base Team successfully removed more than 99% of a golf ball-sized brain tumor from a Marine staff sergeant using a minimally invasive endoscopic approach through the nasal passages, avoiding the need for an open craniotomy and preserving the patient’s vision by intentionally leaving a tiny portion of tumor that was tightly wrapped around the optic nerve. For Navy Medicine, the case showcases the value of collaborative, subspecialty surgical teams and advanced minimally invasive techniques that provide military beneficiaries with cutting-edge care while preserving operational function and demonstrating the Military Health System’s ability to deliver highly complex neurosurgical care without referral to the civilian sector.