Blog Articles

Christopher Duma, MD, FACS Blog View all posts

Do Brain Tumors Present Symptoms?
Brain tumors are diagnosed in over 700,000 Americans, but not every person will experience symptoms. Learn more about different types of brain tumors and what symptoms they can cause.
Feb 8th, 2022

What Is Ataxia?
If you’re one of the 150,000 people in the United States who have slurred speech or difficulties walking because of ataxia, it’s important you know everything you can about the disease and its treatment options.
Dec 13th, 2020

Tooth Pain? It Could Be Trigeminal Neuralgia
Over 150,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with facial pain as a result of trigeminal neuralgia each year. Learn more about this painful nerve condition and what your options are for treating it.
Nov 9th, 2020

The Promising Results of Immunotherapy
Advancements in immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant brain tumors is showing great promise. Find out how immunotherapy increases survival rates when used alongside traditional brain cancer treatments.
Oct 11th, 2020

Understanding Dystonia
If your neck twists to one side or if you experience uncontrollable eye blinking, you may have a condition known as dystonia. Find out more about this movement disorder and the available treatment options for controlling your symptoms.
Sep 20th, 2020

Could My Symptoms Mean I Have a Brain Tumor?
Over 700,000 people in the United States are living with a brain tumor. Read on to learn more about the different types of brain tumors and the potential warning signs you may have one.
Aug 7th, 2020

Surgical Complications and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Surgery is the standard treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus, but as with all surgeries, brings with it potential risks. The risks are few and small. Learn more about this brain condition and the possible side effects of surgery.
Jul 14th, 2020

Treating Glioblastoma with Radiosurgery
Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a highly effective treatment for aggressive glioblastomas that requires no incisions or extended downtime. Learn more about the benefits of radiosurgery and the advanced Gamma Knife technology.
May 18th, 2020

Treatment Options for Dystonia
When the uncontrolled movements and tremors of dystonia are interfering with your quality of life, you can find help with specialized treatments, like GammaKnife® ablation. Learn more about options for treating dystonia.
Mar 1st, 2020

Your Memory Loss May Not Be Alzheimer’s
Though it’s true that memory loss is a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, periodic forgetfulness doesn’t mean you have the disease. Learn more about other factors that contribute to memory loss and when you should be evaluated for Alzheimer’s.
Feb 1st, 2020

The Gamma Knife Is Not a Knife: How It Works
The Gamma Knife is an innovative technology that treats brain tumors and other conditions without the need for incisions or an extended recovery time. Learn how the Gamma Knife technology works and how it can work for you.
Dec 1st, 2019

TIPS FOR ENHANCING RECOVERY POST BRAIN SURGERY
The steps needed to help you recover from surgery actually start as soon as you are diagnosed and not just after you wake in the hospital bed. Prior to surgery you should read as much as you can about what to expect during and after your surgery.
May 25th, 2016

THE LEADING-EDGE PINPOINT RADIATION TECHNIQUE
In the latter half of 2015, Dr. Chris Duma was featured on CBS News – Los Angeles when the station featured a couple – Cindy and Mark – two of Dr. Duma’s glioblastoma patients.
Jan 17th, 2016

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER BRAIN SURGERY?
The first stop for post-surgery expectations is your surgical team. Your experience will vary greatly based on your health history, your diagnosis, your anesthesia and your surgery.
Dec 17th, 2015

WHAT IS NEUROENDOSCOPY?
The term endoscopy comes from endoscope, which is a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it, typically used in gastrointestinal surgeries, and allows surgeons to view key anatomical features in real-time during surgery.
Nov 13th, 2015

WHAT IS TOMOTHERAPY?
Patients who have recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor will quickly discover that there are many different treatment options available for removing or shrinking tumors. Many of our patients wonder what is the best treatment option for them?
Jul 28th, 2015

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT NEUROSURGEON
Being diagnosed with a brain tumor is often very stressful and overwhelming. A large contributor to the anxiety one feels is the fear associated with the unknown, but the unknown can be mitigated with the help of the right neurologist.
Jun 29th, 2015

HOW TO EASE TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA PAIN
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is considered the most painful neurological disease because it causes unrelenting head and facial pain in those who suffer from it – often being described as an intense burning or stabbing pain.
May 15th, 2015

A NEW LOOK ON GENETICS & BRAIN DISEASE
Our genes can be understood as our molecular heredity – the biological attributes that are passed to us from many generations before us. For decades, medical researchers have been trying to find the link, if any, between our genetics and brain disease.
Mar 11th, 2015

BRAIN TUMOR STATISTICS AND FACTS
Unfortunately, no one is immune from unpredictable brain tumors. Most genetic, biological factors are still somewhat ambiguous and often there is no cause for the development of a tumor.
Feb 11th, 2015

MUSIC AND THE MIND: A LOOK AT NOTES AND NEURO HEALTH
Music is a powerful phenomena, capable of changing emotions, thoughts and behaviors. It’s rare to find somebody on this planet that doesn’t respond to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, move to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, or tear to Debussy’s Claire de Lune.
Nov 29th, 2014

POLIOVIRUS AND THE BRAIN
At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, poliomyelitis (also known as polio) would kill or paralyze 500,000 people every year.
Nov 12th, 2014

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS ON THE RISE
The vast increase of neurological disorders is troubling. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are burdened with neurological disorders, and this doesn’t take into account the masses of undiagnosed in rural and developing areas.
Oct 28th, 2014

NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS TREATMENT OPTIONS
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), commonly known as “water on the brain,” is rare, affecting about 5 in 100,000 persons; however, for those suffering from NPH, quality-of-life can be drastically reduced.
Sep 29th, 2014

AN EYE ON TECHNOLOGY: VIRTUAL REALITY AND ROBOTICS
Even though the concept of virtual reality and robotics sounds more like something you’d read about in a Ray Bradbury or Orson Scott Card novel, this innovative technology is changing the approach neurosurgeons are taking to treat patients.
Sep 19th, 2014

WHAT CAUSES BRAIN TUMORS?
According to a recent study, almost 700,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. If those numbers are correct, than that means 1 in 448 people are currently living with a malignant or benign brain tumor.
Jul 31st, 2014

HEADACHES: WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
Headaches can be caused by a number of things, and the majority of time can be linked to non-serious sources like pulled or tensed muscles, sinus infections, or blood vessel swelling (like a migraine).
Jun 3rd, 2014

WHAT IS GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY?
If your doctor recently recommended gamma knife radiosurgery for the treatment of brain tumors (malignant and benign), vascular malformations, or functional brain disorders you may be wondering what gamma knife radiosurgery actually is.
May 6th, 2014

HOW DOES IMMUNOTHERAPY TREAT BRAIN TUMORS?
In 2013 around 70,000 American’s were diagnosed with a new brain tumor, and of them, 25,000 were malignant. There are multiple forms of treatment available, however, immunotherapy is considered one of the best treatment options for fighting brain tumors.
Apr 25th, 2014

REDUCING YOUR RISK OF STROKE
According to recent statistics, nearly one in five American’s will have a stroke in his or her lifetime. Though strokes can effect anyone at any age, typically those who experience a stroke do so during their middle age or older years.
Mar 21st, 2014

REASONING BEHIND RESOLUTIONS: BRAIN STRATEGY
We’re still relatively new in this 2014 year and there is still time to catch the coat tails of all those resolutions you set. In reality, however, the concept of the brain’s involvement in resolutions (and their perceived value) is quite fascinating.
Feb 16th, 2014

UNDERSTANDING PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Surprisingly, symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been described in writings as early as 2000 B.C. Sources such as Egyptian papyrus, an Ayurvedic medical summary, and Galen’s writings all describe manifestations of PD.
Dec 21st, 2013

NOVEMBER: ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
This month, as you’re finding reasons to give thanks, perhaps you may want to include an extra dose of gratitude and support for all those who courageously face Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with strength and optimism.
Nov 10th, 2013

STUDY FINDS BRAIN SURGERY MAY HELP SEVERE OCD
According the International OCD Foundation, about 1 in every 100 adults is currently affected by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), while 1 in 200 children and teens may have OCD as well.
Jun 12th, 2013

SURGICAL OPTIONS FOR TREATING EPILEPSY
If someone could offer you a fix that could help you improve your brain health, increase memory, cut your risk of developing Alzheimers or dementia, prevent stroke, or improve symptoms from Parkinson’s Disease, would you take it?
Jun 12th, 2013

THE LINK BETWEEN GOOD HEALTH AND BRAIN HEALTH
While brain exercises like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and learning new languages are all helpful in keeping the brain elastic, there are many health practices that play a vital rule in how your brain ages over the years.
Feb 22nd, 2013

DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE
According to ancient Egyptian writings, Ayurvedic sources, and records from the Roman physician and surgeon Galen, Parkinson’s Disease, or an illness that replicates it, has been around since man has been able to record it.
Nov 20th, 2012

AN EYE ON TECHNOLOGY: GAMMA KNIFE & CYBERKNIFE™
Gamma knife and CyberKnife™ are some of the most sophisticated technologies available to contemporary medicine. It’s interesting that despite their name, there is no actual knife involved.
Oct 5th, 2012

THE MOST COMMON BRAIN TUMOR SURGERY TYPES
Brain surgery has been known to humanity for at least 3500 years, going back to ancient civilizations in Europe, Africa and South America. Over the past 30 years open surgical craniotomies have been the most common practice for most brain surgeons.
Jun 12th, 2012

WELCOME TO DR. DUMA’S NEW BLOG
Welcome to Dr. Duma’s new blog! We are excited about launching our new website, and utilizing technology to help better educate and communicate with our current and future patients.
May 17th, 2012

YOUNG PARKINSON’S PATIENT GIVES BACK
One of my patients is publishing a book describing her experience with her young onset Parkinson’s disease as well as her battle with colon cancer.
May 17th, 2012