Tokyo Women's Medical University

School of Medicine

Neurosurgery

Overview

Neurosurgery is a medical specialty fields that focuses on diagnosis, surgical treatment, and basic research on diseases of the entire nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and their accessory organs (blood vessels, bones, muscles, etc.). Since its establishment in 1969 (Showa 44), under the leadership of Professor Koichi Kitamura (1st), Professor Kintomo Takakura (2nd), Professor Tomokatsu Hori (3rd), Professor Yoshikazu Okada (4th), and Professor Takakazu Kawamata since April 2015, we provide a wide range of neurosurgical treatments including brain tumors, cerebrovascular disorders, functional neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, endovascular treatment, stereotactic radiotherapy, spinal and cord diseases, and the total number of annual surgical cases (open surgery, endovascular surgery, functional neurosurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery) has been 1000-1100. And not only clinical research based on a large number of surgeries, but also we are conducting basic research with the Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research, the Institute for Integrative Medicine, and the Department of Basic Medicine.

Education Details

Student Lectures/Practical Training
Staff from each specialty will provide lectures, and during practical training, students will attend daily conferences and observe surgeries, as well as write reports and give presentations on the patients they are assigned to.
Junior residents
As one of the elective courses, clinical education is provided through medical treatment together with senior residents.
Senior residents
Under the training program of the Japanese Neurosurgical Association, residents will receive sufficient case experience and high-quality advanced training under the supervision of medical advisors who are highly specialized in their respective fields and have an abundant and broad range of surgical cases in order to obtain a specialist degree from the Japanese Neurosurgical Association. We aim to train the next generation of excellent neurosurgeons who can meet the expectations of society. The residents will receive training at the University Hospital, as well as at training and affiliated facilities, then we aim to obtain a neurosurgical specialty in their fifth year of training. After obtaining the specialty, they will receive further training in various specialties such as cerebrovascular surgery, brain tumors, functional neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, spinal cord surgery, endovascular treatment, stereotactic radiotherapy, neurological emergencies, and others. We also actively encourage overseas study and basic research. In addition, we are committed to supporting female physicians before and after childbirth. In the past two years, four female neurosurgeons have returned to work after childbirth.

Research Details

(1) Research on the treatment of neurological dysfunction using neurotrophic factors
(2)Research on changes in blood flow and functional recovery in ischemic cerebrovascular disease
(3)Relationship between recurrence and proliferative potential of meningiomas
(4)Research on the pathogenesis and treatment of malignant astrocytic tumors
(5) Research on the proliferative potential, invasive potential, and angiogenic factors of glioma
(6) Research on the secretory and proliferative capacities of pituitary tumors
(7) Hormone production capacity in pituitary adenomas and hormone reserve for improving QOL
(8) Genetic investigation of cerebrovascular diseases
(9) Development of new coils for embolization of cerebral aneurysms and embolization materials
(10) Research on cell death and neuron-like differentiation in medulloblastoma
(11) Basic and clinical research on the treatment of epilepsy
(12) Functions of the limbic system in patients with epilepsy
(13) Endoscopic-assisted selective spinal cord dorsal root blockade in patients with cerebral palsy with apex legs
(14) Research on prediction of postoperative complications by the nerve roots from which spinal schwannomas arise
(15) Research on non-invasive interventional brain therapy using convergent ultrasound and gamma knife

Faculty

Takakazu Kawamata
Motohiro Hayashi
Yasuo Aihara
Kosaku Amano
Koji Yamaguchi
Taiichi Saito
Tatsuya Ishikawa

Graduate School

It is possible to enroll in the Graduate School of Medicine during the training period.
(See Graduate School Syllabus)
In addition, for outstanding research papers, even non-graduate students will be awarded a doctoral degree (B) after the degree examination.

Related links

Research Achievements Database

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