I'm just wondering if any of you are also patients of Dr. Takanori Fukushima?  If you don't mind, please let me know.  I know that there is a group of us here in Hawaii.  For those of you who have never heard of him, here is some info on him below.

Thanks,
SFH

He is a world renown neurosurgeon currently in North Carolina.  He is so renowned, in fact, that both the procedure he developed and the delicate instruments used to perform it bear his name. Called keyhole surgery, or the , the procedure involves a five-millimeter incision at the base of the skull instead of the large, open-brain procedures that were used previously. (see:

Dr. Fukushima is internationally renowned for his research and clinical work in the treatment of skull base tumors, pituitary tumors, cerebral aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, trigeminal neuralgia, and hemifacial spasms. Named Honorary Professor at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; University of the Mediterranean, Marseille, France; and University of Berlin, Germany, he served as Professor of Neurosurgery at University of Southern California, Los Angeles and at Allegheny Neuroscience Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He was formerly a Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. More recently he has served as Professor and Vice-Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Allegheny Neuroscience Institute, and Director of the Center for Skull Base Surgery in Pittsburgh.

  One of the World's largest experience in Skull Base Surgery.
  Originator of "Keyhole" Microsurgery & Target Surgery.
  Pioneer in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery Techniques since 1968.
  Developed the first flexible neuroendoscope, in 1969.
  Developed the Fukushima Skull Base Carotid Bypass Surgery, since 1986.
  Inventor of a variety of Fukushima Microsurgical instruments, since 1980.
  Specializes in pathology of Cranial Nerves, over 6000 cases.
  Skull Base Tumors over 3500 operated cases.
  Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery over 1400 cases.
  Acoustic neuromas - 850 cases, excellent Facial Nerve (98% success) and hearing preservation (70-80% success).
  Extensive experience with C-P angle tumors,  Craniopharyngiomas, Pineal, Jugular Foramen Tumors, and Direct Cavernous Sinus Surgery.
  Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery - 1600 cases.
  Keyhole Surgery to cure Hemifacial Spasm, Trigeminal Neuralgia, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia over 5000 operated cases with excellent results.

Dr. Fukushima is now Professor of Neurosurgery at both Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina and West Virginia University and Director of both Carolina Neuroscience Institute and International Neurosurgery Education Foundation. He is also an honorary professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, the University of Frankfurt and the University of Marseille(see

I would highly recommend him as your neurosurgeon, or just to get his advice on your situation.  Not to mention, his office manager is exceptionally nice!  While Dr. Fukushima operates at several hospitals worldwide, he has located his Neuroscience Institute in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Carolina Neuroscience Institute & Skull Base Surgery Center
4030 Wake Forest Rd., Suite 115
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
USA
Phone: 919-239-0264
Fax: 919-239-0266
E-mail: fukushima@carolinaneuroscience.com

Hi Jen,

Great news!  He and his office staff are so nice...you'll love 'em.  His God given talents and skills with head surgeries is second to none!  Good luck and keep me informed on your progress..  You're in good hands!
You can email me at keasdaddy@hotmail.com.

Take care,
SFH

Hi DJ,

I agree..It's very important to seek out the best.  I also found it helpful to speak to my neurosurgeon's previous patients.  One question I was intersted in was if any of them had to have "corrective" surgery...and in Dr. Fukushima's case, (so far) I've found none.  I was told from another patient who researched him that he has done the most MM cases in the U.S. just because of the fact that he also does surgery in Japan where MM is quite common.  I spoke to one of Dr. Fukushima's patients from Hawaii who told me that she sent her films/information to neurologists/neurosurgeons in California, North Western, etc., but she decided on Dr. Fukushima even though she and her family would have to travel all the way to North Carolina.  (Her husband is an ER doctor here in Hawaii)   

In fact, another Hawaii patient has chosen to fly to the east coast (North Carolina) to see Dr. Fukushima in a couple of weeks for his MM surgery. 

By the way, did you know that he has instruments in the OR named after him that he formulated to perform such delicate brain surgery? 

Well...The most imporant thing is for the patient to feel confident in whomeve r they choose.  This is a life-saving procedure..and not all procedures are quite exactly the same.  Research, research, research...

Take care,
SFH