Neurosurgery at Ruijin Hospital Shanghai | CMCS

Expert Brain & Spine Surgery at One of China's Premier Academic Medical Centers

The Department of Neurosurgery at Ruijin Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — is one of China's most distinguished centers for the surgical management of brain tumors, cerebrovascular disease, spinal disorders, functional neurosurgery, and neurotrauma. With expertise spanning minimally invasive cranial surgery, endoscopic neurosurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, complex vascular neurosurgery, and awake craniotomy for eloquent cortex tumors, the department offers comprehensive neurosurgical care for patients with conditions ranging from brain and spinal cord tumors to cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and movement disorders.

For international patients seeking expert neurosurgical care in Shanghai — whether for a brain tumor, cerebral aneurysm, spinal cord compression, or a second opinion on a complex neurosurgical diagnosis — Ruijin Hospital's neurosurgery department represents one of the most compelling destinations in Asia. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their surgical journey.

About the Department

Ruijin Hospital's neurosurgery department is a national key clinical specialty performing hundreds of major neurosurgical procedures annually. The department operates dedicated neurosurgical wards, a neurosurgical intensive care unit (NSICU), advanced intraoperative neuroimaging and neuromonitoring capabilities, a stereotactic radiosurgery unit, and works in close collaboration with neurology, neuro-oncology, neuroradiology, and radiation oncology through a dedicated neuro-oncology MDT.

The department is equipped with state-of-the-art neurosurgical technology including intraoperative MRI (iMRI) for real-time tumor resection guidance, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) for eloquent cortex and spinal cord protection, fluorescence-guided surgery (5-ALA) for high-grade glioma resection, and neuronavigation systems for precise surgical planning and execution. Faculty members publish regularly in leading neurosurgery and neuro-oncology journals including Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, and Journal of Neuro-Oncology.

Conditions Treated

Brain Tumors

• Glioblastoma (GBM) & High-Grade Glioma — Maximal safe resection with 5-ALA fluorescence guidance and iMRI; Stupp protocol (temozolomide + radiation); tumor treating fields (TTFields); clinical trial access
• Low-Grade Glioma — Awake craniotomy with cortical mapping for eloquent cortex tumors; watch-and-wait vs. early intervention; IDH mutation-guided management
• Meningioma — Microsurgical resection; stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife/CyberKnife) for small or residual tumors; observation for asymptomatic small meningiomas
• Pituitary Adenoma — Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery; medical management (dopamine agonists for prolactinoma, somatostatin analogues for acromegaly); radiation for residual disease
• Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma) — Microsurgical resection with facial nerve monitoring; stereotactic radiosurgery; observation for small tumors
• Brain Metastases — Surgical resection for single or dominant metastases; stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for multiple metastases; whole brain radiation therapy
• Primary CNS Lymphoma — Stereotactic biopsy for diagnosis; high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy coordination with hematology
• Ependymoma & Medulloblastoma — Surgical resection and adjuvant therapy coordination
• Craniopharyngioma — Microsurgical and endoscopic resection; radiation therapy for residual disease
• Skull Base Tumors — Chordoma, chondrosarcoma, and other skull base neoplasms; complex skull base approaches

Cerebrovascular Disease

• Cerebral Aneurysm — Microsurgical clipping and endovascular coiling/flow diversion; ruptured aneurysm emergency surgery; unruptured aneurysm management
• Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) — Microsurgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery, and endovascular embolization; multimodality treatment planning
• Cavernous Malformation — Surgical resection for symptomatic lesions; observation for asymptomatic deep lesions
• Moyamoya Disease — Direct (STA-MCA bypass) and indirect revascularization surgery
• Intracerebral Hemorrhage — Minimally invasive endoscopic hematoma evacuation; craniotomy for large or accessible hematomas
• Carotid Artery Disease — Carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting in collaboration with vascular surgery

Spinal Neurosurgery

• Spinal Cord Tumors — Intramedullary (ependymoma, astrocytoma, hemangioblastoma) and extramedullary (meningioma, schwannoma, neurofibroma) tumors; microsurgical resection with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring
• Cervical Myelopathy — ACDF, laminoplasty, and posterior cervical decompression and fusion
• Lumbar Disc Herniation & Stenosis — Microdiscectomy, laminectomy, and minimally invasive spinal surgery
• Spinal Metastases — Separation surgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT); vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for painful vertebral metastases
• Spinal Cord Injury — Emergency decompression and stabilization; rehabilitation coordination

Functional Neurosurgery

• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) — For Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and OCD; electrode placement with microelectrode recording and intraoperative testing
• Epilepsy Surgery — Resective surgery for drug-resistant focal epilepsy; stereo-EEG (SEEG) for seizure focus localization; vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
• Trigeminal Neuralgia — Microvascular decompression (MVD); stereotactic radiosurgery; percutaneous procedures
• Hemifacial Spasm — Microvascular decompression with intraoperative facial nerve monitoring
• Spasticity Management — Intrathecal baclofen pump implantation; selective dorsal rhizotomy

Neurotrauma

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) — Emergency craniotomy for epidural and subdural hematoma; decompressive craniectomy for refractory intracranial hypertension; ICP monitoring
• Skull Fractures — Depressed skull fracture elevation; cranioplasty for skull defects
• Spinal Trauma — Emergency decompression and stabilization for traumatic spinal cord injury

Advanced Neurosurgical Technology

Intraoperative MRI (iMRI)

Ruijin's neurosurgery department is equipped with intraoperative MRI — one of the most powerful tools in modern brain tumor surgery. iMRI allows the surgical team to obtain real-time MRI images during the operation, enabling assessment of the extent of tumor resection and identification of residual tumor that can be safely removed before closing. This technology has been shown to significantly increase the rate of complete tumor resection in glioma surgery, improving both progression-free survival and overall survival.

5-ALA Fluorescence-Guided Surgery

5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence-guided surgery is used for high-grade glioma resection, causing tumor cells to fluoresce pink under blue light while normal brain tissue remains dark. This allows surgeons to visually distinguish tumor from normal brain in real time, maximizing tumor resection while minimizing damage to eloquent brain tissue.

Awake Craniotomy with Cortical Mapping

For tumors located in or near eloquent cortex — areas controlling speech, language, or motor function — Ruijin's neurosurgery team performs awake craniotomy with intraoperative cortical and subcortical mapping. The patient is kept awake during the critical resection phase, allowing real-time assessment of neurological function and enabling the surgeon to maximize tumor removal while preserving essential brain functions.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Ruijin offers stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) — highly focused radiation delivered in a single or few sessions — for brain metastases, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, AVMs, and other intracranial lesions not amenable to open surgery or as adjuvant treatment after surgical resection.

Neuro-Oncology MDT

All brain tumor cases at Ruijin are reviewed by the neuro-oncology MDT, which integrates neurosurgical, neuro-oncological, neuroradiological, radiation oncological, and neuropathological expertise to develop personalized treatment plans. The MDT considers:

• Surgical approach and extent of resection goals
• Molecular profiling (IDH, MGMT, 1p/19q, EGFR, BRAF) to guide adjuvant therapy
• Radiation therapy planning (conventional fractionation, SRS, SBRT)
• Systemic therapy selection (temozolomide, bevacizumab, targeted agents)
• Clinical trial eligibility for novel therapies

Why International Patients Choose Ruijin Neurosurgery

• Advanced Technology — Intraoperative MRI, 5-ALA fluorescence guidance, awake craniotomy, and neuronavigation for maximal safe tumor resection
• Cerebrovascular Expertise — Complex aneurysm clipping, AVM surgery, and Moyamoya revascularization
• Functional Neurosurgery — Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and epilepsy surgery with SEEG
• Neuro-Oncology MDT — Multidisciplinary tumor board with molecular profiling-guided treatment planning
• Minimally Invasive Approaches — Endoscopic pituitary surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and endoscopic hematoma evacuation
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class neurosurgical care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your neurological history, MRI/CT scans, pathology reports, molecular profiling results, and current medications with CMCS.
2. Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate neurosurgeon based on your condition — brain tumor, cerebrovascular, spinal, or functional neurosurgery.
4. MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by Ruijin's neuro-oncology MDT.
5. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation and surgical slot with minimal waiting time.
6. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Ruijin Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
7. Surgical Admission Support — Full coordination of pre-operative neuroimaging, anesthesia consultation, admission, and NSICU care.
8. Post-Operative Follow-Up — Pathology and molecular profiling report translation, adjuvant therapy coordination, and remote follow-up after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you are seeking expert neurosurgical care in Shanghai — whether for a brain tumor, cerebral aneurysm, spinal cord tumor, deep brain stimulation, epilepsy surgery, or a second opinion on a complex neurosurgical diagnosis — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Ruijin Hospital's neurosurgery team.

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