Meet Owen, a Future Healthcare Hero

At just 17 years old, Owen had a routine MRI after a concussion. What was expected to be a straightforward scan unexpectedly revealed an incidental brain tumor, a diagnosis no family is prepared for, especially one uncovered by chance.

A Minimally Invasive, Two-Step Treatment Plan

Using cutting-edge, minimally invasive technology, Dr. Shaun D. Rodgers planned a precise, two-step approach to treat Owen’s brain tumor:

Step 1: Robotic-Assisted Biopsy

The first step was a robotic-assisted biopsy, allowing the surgical team to safely and precisely sample the tumor tissue to confirm the diagnosis before moving forward with treatment.

Step 2: MRI-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)

Based on the biopsy findings, Owen underwent MRI-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), a minimally invasive procedure that uses focused laser energy, guided by real-time MRI, to precisely treat, or “burn,” the tumor through a very small opening rather than traditional open surgery.

Thriving Nearly Two Years Later

Today, nearly two years later, Owen is thriving. He’s symptom-free, lesion-free, spending his summer lifeguarding, and even considering a future career in healthcare.

Why Owen’s Story Matters

Owen’s journey is a reminder that brain tumors don’t always announce themselves with obvious symptoms. His was found incidentally, on an MRI ordered for an unrelated concussion, underscoring the importance of following up on unexpected imaging findings with a specialized pediatric neurosurgery evaluation.

Is a Minimally Invasive Approach Right for You or Your Child?

Not every brain tumor requires traditional open surgery. For carefully selected patients like Owen, a robotic-assisted biopsy paired with MRI-guided LITT can offer an effective, minimally invasive path to treatment with a shorter recovery. Our team at Long Island Neurosurgical Associates can help you understand whether this approach may be right for you or your child. Learn more about our approach to pediatric brain, skull, spinal cord, and spine tumors, or read more patient stories from our team.

Schedule a Consultation in New York

To learn more about robotic-assisted biopsy and LITT for brain tumors, contact Long Island Neurosurgical Associates to schedule an evaluation with our neurosurgery team.

Patient story and photos shared with permission.