COVID-19 Announcement In light of the current COVID-19 regional situation and in accordance with CDC guidelines and State of Virginia Stay at Home Mandate, all classes, community events and support groups are canceled until June 10, 2020. Until they can be resumed, virtual continuing medical education sessions will be scheduled.

Inova Neurosciences is proud to offer the most advanced surgical treatment services for all types of neurological conditions including an epilepsy monitoring unit, sleep labs, and a comprehensive rehabilitative and therapy program for spine, stroke conditions and brain injuries as well as sound medical management of conditions like MS or Parkinson’s disease. Our latest addition in neurosurgical technologies and equipment includes laser ablation surgical equipment for brain and spine tumors and/or epileptic seizures.

Overview Treatments A cerebral aneurysm occurs when one of the brain’s blood vessel walls weakens and bulges. This abnormal dilation is dangerous because it can press on the surrounding nerves and brain tissue or rupture, which is life threatening. Most aneurysms do not have symptoms and are found when brain imaging has been conducted for other reasons. A large unruptured aneurysm may press on the surrounding nerves, causing numbness, weakness, or pain behind the eyes. A ruptured aneurysm causes subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding into the brain.

Overview Conditions Angioplasty is a common, very successful treatment to open blocked arteries. In some cases, the physician inserts and fastens a flexible metal sheath, called a stent, in the artery to keep it open. Carotid angioplasty is a specific procedure for clearing carotid stenosis, a narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck. During angioplasty, your physician passes a catheter with an inflatable balloon at the tip into a blocked artery. The balloon inflates, compresses the blockage, and opens the narrowed section of the artery to improve blood flow.

Overview Treatments A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue. There are more than 120 types of tumor that affect the brain and the spinal cord. Tumors are usually categorized by the type of cell where they begin, or by the area in the brain or spinal cord where they occur. Brain tumors may be classified as either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), depending on their behavior. The tumor can either originate in the brain itself (primary tumor), or come from another part of the body and travel to the brain (metastatic or secondary tumor).

Overview Treatments Carotid stenosis is narrowing and hardening of the carotid arteries in the neck, most commonly related to atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque, which is a deposit of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of an artery). Because the carotid arteries deliver blood to the brain, carotid artery disease can have serious implications by reducing the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen in order to function. Even a brief interruption in blood supply can cause problems.

Overview Treatment Vascular malformations are abnormal formations of blood vessels, which can occur in the brain. They can occur in the arteries, veins, or capillaries. Types of vascular malformations include: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) Dural arteriovenous malformation Cavernous malformation Venous malformation Under normal circumstances, the brain's arteries connect to a network of tiny capillaries that distribute blood throughout the brain's tissue and return it to the veins.

Overview Conditions Chemotherapy involves using powerful drugs to destroy tumor cells. A single drug or a combination may be used. The drugs are given by mouth or through an IV line or drip. Some medications are given through the shunt put in place to drain excess fluid from your brain. Another chemotherapy option is a wafer containing a cancer-killing drug. These chemotherapy wafers are inserted during surgery, most often to treat a brain tumor.  Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles.