Professor Tzvi Ramleading neurosurgeon
The excellence of therapeutic techniques, the high professionalism of doctors, and the preference for gentle types of therapy – this combination of factors encourages parents from different countries to choose treatment for brain tumours in children in Israel. The leading clinics in the country, such as Ichilov, have all the necessary modern equipment for conducting high-precision diagnostic studies and subsequent treatment of young patients. The clinic even accepts children who have already undergone oncology treatment in other medical institutions, where they may have been denied further assistance.
When developing a therapy program at Ichilov, the child's age is always taken into account: potentially harmful treatment methods for a growing body are replaced with gentler alternatives. Since brain cancer ranks second in frequency among children, ongoing scientific research is conducted in Israel aimed at improving treatment methods. The most promising developments are rapidly implemented in clinical practice, allowing patients to expect the most progressive and effective approach to therapy.
Positive reviews of treatment for brain oncopathologies in children at Ichilov show how attentively doctors treat their young patients and how professionally treatment programs are developed. The children's department of the clinic creates a microclimate that helps relieve tension in the child. Painful procedures are performed with anesthesia, causing minimal discomfort for the little one. The optimally balanced cost of brain cancer treatment in children in Israel often turns out to be the decisive factor that leads to the decision to come for treatment at the clinic.
Current Techniques
When treating brain tumours in children at clinics in Israel, doctors set themselves the main task: to gently remove the neoplasm and take measures to minimize the risk of recurrence. Brain tumours are often secondary, so, alongside their treatment, the primary focus is also addressed.
A feature of the disease's progression in children is its aggressive nature, which is why oncologists prefer to carry out therapy that quickly halts the pathological process. The choice of means and methods largely depends on the nature of the tumour (benign or malignant), its location, and the type of damaged cells.
Surgery. This is the primary treatment option. Removal of a benign neoplasm usually leads to the patient's recovery, while in the case of malignant lesions, resection of the neoplasm and surrounding tissues ensures the halting of disease progression. Depending on the location, the method of surgery is chosen. At Ichilov, preference is given to minimally invasive surgeries that have a minimal risk of damaging important brain centers. In cases of pituitary gland lesions, surgery is performed via a transnasal approach: instead of opening the skull, the surgeon removes the neoplasm through the nasal passages. This method carries fewer risks of brain damage and reduces blood loss. For other locations, endoscopic craniotomy may be performed: a small hole is made in the skull through which the neoplasm is resected. The clinic also uses an innovative method called awake craniotomy: while the neurosurgeon removes the neoplasm, the young patient remains conscious. This method allows the doctor to monitor the results of their manipulations to avoid affecting functional centers of the brain responsible for speech, swallowing, movement, and so on.
A promising direction in brain surgery is robotic operations, where the necessary actions are performed not by a surgeon but by the da Vinci robot – a system for performing surgeries. The range of motion of the robotic arm is much wider than that of a human hand, and the movements are more precise (tremor is eliminated).
Stereotactic Radiosurgery. This serves as an alternative to surgical operation if the tumour is located in the brainstem. This type of treatment is performed on a CyberKnife system: it generates multiple ionizing radiation beams that enter the human body at different angles and converge at the site of the neoplasm. There, maximum radiation power is created, while the tissues through which each beam passes receive minimal exposure. This type of treatment leads to the destruction of the neoplasm after the first or second session. Before starting therapy, computer modeling is conducted to ensure the most accurate targeting of pathological tissues without harming the surrounding areas.
Radiotherapy. In children, this method shows excellent results: after a course of treatment, the volume of affected tissues decreases, and prolonged remission occurs. Radiotherapy is often combined with surgical treatment. The doctor chooses the more acceptable option: undergoing a course before surgery to reduce the scale of intervention or after it, to eliminate residual cancer foci. At Ichilov, radiotherapy is performed on the latest linear accelerators: they focus beams on the affected area with an accuracy of up to 0.5 mm, and the intensity of exposure is increased. This allows for a reduction in session duration by one-third or half, and reduces the number of sessions by 2-4 times.
Chemotherapy. In cases of malignant brain lesions, a course of chemotherapy is prescribed to slow the spread of cancer cells and reduce the volume of the tumour mass. Typically, to enhance treatment effectiveness, the patient is prescribed a combination of several types of cytostatic drugs. These are administered intravenously, and in some cases, directly into the spinal column, into the cerebrospinal fluid. The clinic uses new-generation drugs, which have fewer side effects.
Symptom Management. Supportive therapy for brain cancer helps improve the patient's condition, alleviating severe manifestations of the disease, such as debilitating headaches, seizures, tissue swelling, and so on. Medications are prescribed based on the observed symptoms. Supportive treatment also helps manage side effects after chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Diagnostics
The success of treatment largely depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis made and the promptness with which the diagnostics are conducted. Ichilov has modern high-informative equipment, and diagnosticians use contemporary laboratory research methods. This allows for a 100% accuracy in determining the type, nature, and location of the tumour. Diagnostics take only three days and are conducted according to a pre-prepared and agreed-upon plan, which spares children and their parents from having to stand in queues.
First Day
The child is examined by the attending physician, who also studies the medical history. To eliminate the language barrier, a translator is present during the appointment. The doctor checks the main parameters of brain function – muscle reflexes, coordination of movements, vision, and hearing.
Second Day
Laboratory and instrumental studies are conducted:
- Ultrasound
- Biopsy with histological analysis (revision of samples taken in the home country may be conducted)
- CT, PET-CT
- MRI, PET-MRI
- Cerebrospinal fluid studies
- X-ray
- Electroencephalogram.
Third Day
The verdict of the doctors is issued at the council, and a therapy program is developed. After this, treatment can begin immediately.
If parents cannot come to Israel for their child's examination, they can order a consultation via Skype – this is a more budget-friendly option. The consultation is conducted by recognized experts in treating children with brain tumours. The doctor will express their opinion on the accuracy of the diagnosis and suggest the most appropriate therapy plan that the young patient can undergo in their home country. If parents decide to continue treatment at Ichilov after this consultation, the first appointment at the clinic will be free of charge.
How Much Does Treatment for Brain Cancer in Children Cost in Israel
The price depends on what treatment measures will need to be taken to achieve positive therapy results, which becomes known after the examination is completed. Parents often mention that the cost of treating brain tumours in children in Israel is much lower than in the USA, Germany, Austria, and other highly developed countries, even though its effectiveness is the same. Treatment at Ichilov allows for savings of 30 to 50% without compromising the quality of therapy.
| Type of Service | Prices |
|---|---|
| Basic diagnostic package | from $1680 |
| Non-surgical treatment | from $12800 |
| Surgery | from $17600 |
| Consultation conducted by world-class expert Professor Tzvi Ram |