Developmental (Pediatric) Neurosurgery Center

The MGH Pediatric Neurosurgery Unit specializes in the surgical treatment of pediatric brain and spinal tumors in conjunction with a team including pediatric neuroncologists and pediatric medical oncologists. Surgery of developmental anomalies presenting prenatally, in infancy, childhood, or adulthood including tethered spinal cord, spina bifida, syringomyelia (syrinx), myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, lipoma, dermal sinus, encephalocele, aqueductal stenosis, myeloschisis, lipomyelomeningocele, split cord malformation, diastematomyelia, Klippel-Feil syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts [including ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) and ventriculo atrial (VA) shunts], Dandy-Walker cyst, and Arnold-Chiari malformation are also a focus of this group of neurosurgeons.

Other resources related to pediatric neurosurgery and brain and spine tumors, tethered spinal cord, spina bifida, syringomyelia (syrinx), myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus, and Arnold Chiari malformation for patients, families, and other caregivers. Disciplines and team members:

Director/Pediatrician - Dr. Keenan Pediatric Orthopedists - Drs. Zaleske, Zimbler, Mankin Pediatric Neurology - Dr. Krishnamoorthy Pediatric Neurosurgeons - Drs Duhaime, Chapman, Butler, Medlock, Eskandar, Martuza, Ogilvy, and Swearingen

Pediatric Urology - Dr. Kim Nurse Coordinator - Kelly Schoppee, RN Physical Therapy - Sue Rielly, R

Other disciplines available for consults include social service, orthotics, and gait lab analysis. Appointments for adult patients are coordinated through Dr. Butler's office rather than through the clinic. Selected Publications:

• Tierney TS, Tierney BJ, Rosenberg AE, Krishnamoorthy KS, Butler WE. Infantile myofibromatosis: a nontraumatic cause of neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Pediatr Neurol. 2008 Oct;39(4):276-8.
  
• Winkfield KM, Linsenmeier C, Yock TI, Grant PE, Yeap BY, Butler WE, Tarbell NJ. Surveillance of craniopharyngioma cyst growth in children treated with proton radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Mar 1;73(3):716-21.
  
• Dunn IF, Agarwalla PK, Papanastassiou AM, Butler WE, Smith ER. Multiple pilocytic astrocytomas of the cerebellum in a 17-year-old patient with neurofibromatosis type I. Childs Nerv Syst. 2007 Oct;23(10):1191-4. Epub 2007 Apr 25.
  
• Smith ER, Butler WE, Barker FG 2nd. Is there a "July phenomenon" in pediatric neurosurgery at teaching hospitals? J Neurosurg. 2006 Sep;105(3 Suppl):169-76.

Referrals | Pediatric Neurosurgeons | Pedi Links

Ann-Christine Duhaime, MD
Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Paul Chapman, MD,
William Butler, MD
Michael D. Medlock, MD

• Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery- Dr Emad Eskandar
• Pediatric Neurovascular Surgery - Dr Christopher Ogilvy, MAD
• Pediatric Neurorendocrine Surgery - Dr Brooke Swearingen

Local Emergency Neurosurgical Hotline 617-277-2381 Best Hospitals: Neurology & Neurosurgery National and International Referrals Neurosurgery @ MGH 617-726-8581 Neurosurgical Spine Referral Line 617-726-8668

Mass General Hospital