The patient suffered from a meningioma — a benign tumor located in an extremely complex area: along the skull wall, extending into the eye socket. The tumor caused noticeable bulging of the eye and critical deterioration of vision. This was a rare type of meningioma simultaneously affecting both the skull and the orbital space — an area considered one of the most challenging and high-risk for surgery.
Medical breakthrough: brain tumor was removed through the eye without craniotomy at Ichilov
At the Ichilov medical center in Tel Aviv, for the first time in Israel, a unique operation was performed to remove a skull base tumor through the eye socket — without opening the skull. This innovative procedure, carried out by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, marks a new era in brain tumor treatment. The tumor was removed without damaging brain tissue, with minimal risks, and with maximum preservation of aesthetics and function.
04, Sep 2025
Unique medical case: a rare meningioma
An innovative minimally invasive approach
Previously, such procedures required classical craniotomy: opening the skull, removing bone fragments, and retracting eye muscles and tissues. This method was highly traumatic, painful, and associated with significant risk.
Recently at Ichilov, doctors applied a fundamentally different approach: removing a brain tumor through the eye socket. Through a very small incision in the upper eyelid, using an endoscopic camera and ultra-thin instruments, surgeons gained direct access to the orbit and the skull base. To reach the site, only a small section of bone had to be temporarily removed, after which the tumor was fully excised. Throughout the procedure, nerves, blood vessels, and ocular muscles were maximally preserved.
At the end of the surgery, the bone structures were returned to place through the eye, the skull base was reconstructed with a special fat tissue graft, and the eyelid was closed with meticulous cosmetic precision, avoiding any visible scarring.
Training and international experience
The operation was made possible thanks to the special training of Ichilov’s medical team. The surgeons underwent training in Italy and Spain, where such procedures are already performed with advanced technologies. For several months, specialists from different teams and departments prepared for the procedure, teaching and training one another. This interdisciplinary approach enabled outstanding results.
The team of specialists
The success of the operation was ensured by a team of doctors from Ichilov medical center, who spent many hours in preparation:
- Prof. Igal Leibovich and Dr. Ran Ben-Knaan — ophthalmology
- Dr. Lior Gonen and Dr. Ariel Agur — neurosurgery
- Dr. Avraham Abargil and Dr. Fursana Jashan — otolaryngology
- Dr. Daniel Hayat — anesthesiology
Center for medical innovation
Ichilov is rightly considered Israel’s leading medical center, actively implementing the latest treatment methods. The removal of a tumor through the eye not only confirmed the high level of professionalism of its specialists, but also marked a new stage in the fight against brain tumors: now treatment can be carried out with minimal trauma while preserving patients’ quality of life.
Medical tourism
The successful completion of such a complex and innovative surgery confirms the status of Ichilov’s oncology department and medical center as an international hub for medical innovation. Thanks to achievements like this, the clinic attracts patients from all over the world who choose Israel for the treatment of complex diseases.
Medical tourism at Ichilov is rapidly developing: foreign patients come not only for advanced therapies and unique surgical solutions, but also for the opportunity to be treated by Israel’s leading oncologists and neurosurgeons.
You can learn more about the Department of Neurosurgery and submit a request for a consultation with a specialist on this page
High standards of medical care, comprehensive support, and the use of the latest technologies make the center one of the leaders in treating complex cases.
