Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Dvora Blumental
30 years of experience
Clinic is certified :
Astrocytoma treatment cost in Israel typically involves a consultation with a neurosurgeon ranging from $350 to $600 and primary therapies like Halcyon, which costs $14,000 to $21,000. Total expenses depend on tumor grade, surgical complexity, and clinic tier. Patients often realize 20-40% savings compared to the United States. Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa are the primary hubs for neuro-oncology.
Typical Astrocytoma Treatment Costs in Israel
Bookimed Expert Insight: High-grade astrocytomas require multidisciplinary care found at JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky Medical Center. They report a 98% success rate for neurosurgeries and offer advanced TrueBeam STx technology. Private facilities like Assuta Medical Center are best for rapid diagnostics, typically completed in 1-3 days. Patients seeking specialized pediatric care should prioritize Rambam Medical Center, which pioneered robotic surgery for children in Israel.
| Israel | Turkey | Austria | |
| Stereotaxic radiosurgery | from $19,000 | from $6,400 | ≈ $9,500 |
| Radiation therapy for colorectal cancer | ≈ $14,000 | from $5,000 | from $6,700 |
| Halcyon | ≈ $14,000 | ≈ $9,500 | ≈ $11,500 |
| Craniotomy | from $22,000 | from $8,900 | ≈ $18,000 |
| Chemotherapy for breast cancer | ≈ $22,500 | from $3,000 | ≈ $9,500 |
Dr. Zvi Cohen is the Director of the Neurosurgery Department at Sheba Medical Center. He was recently recognized in Forbes Israel’s Best Doctors list for 2025. Dr. Cohen specializes in treating complex brain, pituitary, and spinal cord tumors. He founded the brain tumor tissue bank at Sheba to support oncological research. Dr. Cohen is board-certified in neurosurgery and leads clinical trials for malignant brain tumors.
Dr. Yuri Goldes is the Deputy Director of General Surgery at Sheba Medical Center. He pioneered some of Israel’s first robotic resections for stomach and pancreatic cancers. Forbes Israel named him among the nation’s best gastrointestinal surgeons. In 2019, he received the Best Doctor of the Year award from the Israeli Ministry of Health.
900+ procedures performed – Dr. Blumental is a highly experienced neuro-oncologist and director of the Neuro-oncology Service at Sourasky Medical Center.
Dr. Felix Bokstein leads the Neurooncology Clinic at Ichilov – one of Israel's largest and most advanced hospitals, focusing specifically on brain tumors.
Israeli neuro-oncology centers prioritize multimodal treatment for astrocytoma. Primary methods include high-precision surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and targeted chemotherapy. Facilities like Sheba Medical Center use intraoperative MRI and brain mapping to ensure maximum safe resection while preserving neurological function for complex brain tumors.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli oncology centers like Sourasky report a 90% success rate in oncology treatments. This performance often stems from high surgical volumes. For example, Assuta Medical Center performs 92,000 operations annually. This experience allows surgeons to refine techniques like image-guided resection and intraoperative MRI, which are crucial for treating deep-seated astrocytomas effectively.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the importance of molecular profiling before starting therapy. They often find that awake brain mapping provides peace of mind during aggressive tumor removals.
Israeli hospitals like Sourasky Medical Center and Sheba Medical Center lead neuro-oncology with specialized astrocytoma programs. These facilities hold JCI accreditation and utilize intraoperative MRI and brain mapping. Expert surgeons often specialize in high-precision resections and advanced molecular profiling for personalized care.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While prestige is high at major centers, patients find maximum value in comprehensive craniotomy packages. For instance, Sheba Medical Center offers all-inclusive bundles. These cover 7 days of hospitalization and 10 days of hotel stay for approximately $35,000. This structure is rare in private facilities and simplifies long-term recovery planning.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize finding surgeons with high-volume resection experience. They recommend confirming if molecular profiling like IDH or MGMT is available before starting travel for treatment.
Israeli surgeons use real-time mapping and imaging to achieve maximal safe resection of brain tumors. They combine awake craniotomy with intraoperative MRI to verify tumor removal before closing. These techniques protect speech and motor pathways while ensuring surgical precision within JCI-accredited facilities.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgery stands out because top specialists often hold international leadership roles. For example, Dr. Zvi Ram at Sourasky Medical Center led the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. Choosing a department head like Dr. Zvi Cohen at Sheba Medical Center ensures access to proprietary tumor tissue banks for personalized drug research.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize that awake surgery feels less intimidating when surgeons explain they are monitoring speech in real-time. Many note that intensive neuro-rehabilitation starts immediately after surgery to help regain motor function quickly.
Israel offers highly specialized pediatric care for childhood astrocytoma through dedicated neuro-oncology programs. JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky and Sheba employ multidisciplinary teams of pediatric neurosurgeons and oncologists. These facilities serve thousands of children yearly. They utilize advanced image-guided tumor resection and intraoperative MRI navigation.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli pediatric centers show a unique pattern of high-volume specialization that impacts outcomes. Hadassah and Soroka combined treat over 30,000 children annually. This massive volume ensures teams are experts in rare pediatric mutations. For astrocytoma, look for surgeons like Dr. Zvi Cohen. He founded a specific brain tumor tissue bank to improve personalized treatment.
Patient Consensus: Families emphasize finding centers with pediatric neuro-oncology fellowships to ensure age-appropriate care. Many suggest using telemedicine for a second opinion to compare Israeli protocols with local options.
Advanced astrocytoma treatment in Israel utilizes high-precision technologies like intraoperative MRI and stereotaxic radiosurgery. These tools allow surgeons to maximize tumor removal while protecting vital brain functions. Leading centers integrate AI-driven imaging and personalized immunotherapy to target cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli oncology centers like Sourasky often report high success rates because they combine neurosurgery with immediate histopathology revision. For instance, Dr. Zvi Cohen at Sheba Medical Center uses image-guided resection to improve outcomes in complex cases. This integration of pathology and surgical guidance ensures that treatment plans are adjusted while the patient is still in the operating room.
Patient Consensus: Patients often note that having a dedicated nutritionist and 24-hour nursing care during their hospital stay significantly eases the physical stress of recovery. They also emphasize that receiving a detailed treatment plan before traveling helps manage expectations for complex brain surgeries.
Patients can obtain a remote second opinion from Israeli neuro-oncologists through structured telemedicine programs. Leading hospitals like Hadassah, Sheba, and Sourasky (Ichilov) offer video consultations for astrocytoma. These reviews use your MRI or PET-CT scans to confirm diagnoses and refine treatment plans without international travel.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli oncology centers like Sourasky (Ichilov) report a 90% success rate in oncology treatments. This performance often stems from their integration of telemedicine into early diagnosis. Choosing a hospital that handles over 1,000,000 yearly patients, such as Hadassah, ensures your second opinion comes from a specialist with high-volume clinical experience.
Patient Consensus: Patients mention it is important to have all imaging files uploaded in high quality before the call. They note that having a clear report in English helps their local doctors implement new treatment recommendations quickly.
Israel hosts world-renowned astrocytoma specialists chairing international neurosurgical societies and leading multi-disciplinary centers. Experts like Dr. Zvi Ram and Dr. Zvi Cohen specialize in complex resections using intraoperative MRI and brain mapping. These JCI-accredited facilities maintain specialized neuro-oncology units for advanced pharmaceutical and surgical care.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli oncology centers like Sourasky report a 90% average success rate for tumor treatments. While many seek specific surgeons, the data shows these specialists operate within high-volume departments treating 1,800,000 patients annually. Choosing a clinic with an established brain tumor tissue bank, like Sheba, can offer better access to personalized drug research.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the need for full molecular profiling, including IDH and MGMT status, before finalizing a surgeon. They note that top-ranked Israeli specialists are highly accessible for virtual second opinions before traveling abroad.
Israel is a premier neurosurgery hub due to its fusion of high-density medical innovation and elite surgical expertise. Top facilities like Sheba Medical Center integrate AI-guided navigation and real-time intraoperative MRI. Specialized centers report 98% success rates for complex procedures including awake craniotomy and movement disorder treatments.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a clear divide between public and private options in Israel. Private centers like Assuta Medical Center perform over 92,000 operations annually and allow patients to select their specific lead surgeon. This is a vital advantage for complex cases where a specific expert like Dr. Eli Ashkenazi is preferred for his 1,000+ spine surgery record.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize bringing original imaging on a USB for local review to streamline the surgical plan. They also note that private packages often include hotel coordination and airport transfers, making the logistics much smoother.
Israeli neurosurgeons treat a full spectrum of conditions ranging from brain and spinal tumors to complex functional disorders. Specialized centers utilize advanced technologies like Gamma Knife, deep brain stimulation, and intraoperative MRI to manage epilepsy, Parkinson disease, and cerebrovascular pathologies with high precision.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli hospitals often combine specialties to handle complex cases. At Sourasky Medical Center, neurosurgeons like Dr. Zvi Lidar bridge neurosurgery and orthopedics for spinal care. This multidisciplinary approach allows clinics to perform 34,000+ operations annually. Choosing a facility with this crossover expertise often leads to more comprehensive treatment plans for degenerative diseases.
Patient Consensus: Patients value the ability to access specialized treatments like fluorescence-guided surgery for tumors which are often unavailable elsewhere. Many note that the staff is fluent in English and provides clear communication through teleconsultations before traveling.
Israel is home to world-renowned neurosurgery centers like Sourasky Medical Center, Sheba Medical Center, and Hadassah Medical Center. These facilities are globally ranked for treating complex brain tumors, spinal disorders, and movement diseases. They utilize advanced technologies like Gamma Knife, robotic systems, and intra-operative MRI.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that while most patients focus on Tel Aviv, Rambam Medical Center in Haifa offers unique expertise in neuro-trauma. It operates a specialized neuro-ICU and serves nearly 1 million patients annually. This makes it an essential choice for complex post-trauma brain surgeries that requires intensive recovery support.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to start consultations early. They often highlight that the precision and follow-up care for complex brain tumors exceeded their expectations. One patient emphasized how quickly they could connect with top professors for second opinions during critical neurosurgical cases.
Israel's leading neurosurgeons include Prof. Zvi Ram, Prof. Shlomi Constantini, and Prof. Itzhak Fried at Sourasky Medical Center. These specialists hold leadership roles in the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN). They utilize advanced intraoperative mapping and robotic systems.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Sourasky and Sheba indicates a strong correlation between high surgical volumes and patient safety. For example, Sourasky performs 34,000+ operations annually with a 90% oncology success rate. Patients seeking complex tumor removals should prioritize centers like these where surgeons perform hundreds of specific cases each year.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the importance of finding a surgeon who specializes specifically in your condition rather than a generalist. Many note that high-volume centers provide better access to English-speaking staff and coordinated care for international visitors.
International neurosurgery patients in Israel must provide comprehensive medical records including recent MRI or CT scans translated into English. Admission requires a clinical review by specialists to confirm treatment feasibility. Hospitals often mandate full advance payment or a significant deposit before confirming surgery dates or issuing visa support letters.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that top Israeli facilities like Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center handle massive patient volumes, exceeding 1,000,000 people annually. This high demand means clinics prioritize complex or rare cases over routine procedures. Patients with unique or high-risk conditions often receive faster admission approval than those seeking standard treatments available elsewhere.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that having all imaging results ready in English is essential for quick scheduling. Many emphasize that while the medical care is excellent, coordinating around Shabbat closures is necessary to avoid unexpected diagnostic delays.
A standard stay for neurosurgery in Israel ranges from 10 to 14 days for uncomplicated cases. Patients undergoing complex procedures like brain tumor removal or deep brain stimulation often require 4 to 6 weeks. This timeline covers pre-operative diagnostics, the surgical procedure, and essential post-operative monitoring.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Sourasky Medical Center shows they treat over 400,000 patients annually with high success rates. Clinics with such high volumes, like Hadassah or Assuta, often have streamlined discharge protocols. This helps international patients transition to hotel-based recovery faster while maintaining access to top specialists.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is vital not to rush home too early. Some travelers extended their stay to 3 weeks due to swelling or to ensure they received final surgeon clearance before flying.
Israeli neurosurgery uses robotic guidance, real-time 3D imaging, and incisionless technologies to minimize physical trauma. Systems like Mazor Robotics provide sub-millimeter precision for spine implants. MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treats tremors without incisions. These advanced tools ensure high accuracy and reduce recovery times.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli clinics like Sourasky or Hadassah integrate proprietary Israeli-born technologies like Surgical Theater before they hit global markets. Our data shows these centers often use VR flight-through models for pre-surgical planning. This allows surgeons to rehearse complex cases, which is a key factor in their 90% success rates.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that technologies like the Gamma Knife allowed them to return home in days rather than weeks. Many move from traditional 10cm incisions to cuts under 2cm when using robotic-assisted systems.
Israel is a global leader in neurosurgery due to its integration of proprietary medical innovations and internationally trained specialists. High-capacity centers like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) perform over 34,000 annual surgeries. Patients access advanced techniques like awake craniotomy and MR-guided focused ultrasound.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgery stands out because of the high concentration of dually certified experts. Many top surgeons, such as Dr. Zvi Lidar, are certified to practice in both Israel and the USA. This ensures that patients receive American-standard surgical care while staying in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Our data shows that private centers like Assuta offer significantly faster access to these specific specialists compared to the public system.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to confirm a surgeon's specific volume of cases for your exact condition. They also value the ability to get expert second opinions quickly through online consultations with world-renowned professors.
Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) are among the best neurosurgery hospitals in Israel. These JCI-accredited facilities perform thousands of operations annually. They utilize advanced technologies like CyberKnife and intraoperative MRI to treat complex brain tumors and cerebrovascular lesions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top Israeli centers like Sourasky and Hadassah perform over 40,000 total operations yearly. This high volume allows surgeons to maintain a 90% success rate even in complex oncology cases. Patients seeking robotic spine surgery or deep brain stimulation should focus on these high-capacity municipal centers for the most experienced teams.
Patient Consensus: Patients appreciate that some hospitals quickly coordinate consultations even during regional strikes. Families of pediatric patients especially value surgeons trained at prestigious international institutions.
Israel's leading neurosurgeons include Professor Zvi Ram, Professor Shlomi Constantini, and Professor Itzhak Fried at Sourasky Medical Center. These experts specialize in awake craniotomy, pediatric brain tumors, and functional mapping. Most hold JCI accreditation and international fellowships from institutions like Johns Hopkins and Yale.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that top-tier Israeli neurosurgeons, such as those at Sourasky Medical Center, often hold dual board certifications in Israel and the US. This unique crossover ensures patients receive American-standard protocols. These specialists typically manage over 34,000 annual operations, providing high-volume clinical experience that smaller private clinics cannot match.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that highly qualified doctors like Professor Shlomo Constantini provide satisfactory answers quickly. People emphasize that outcomes often depend on the hospital’s integrated resources rather than just a doctor's prestige.
Israel is a global leader in neurosurgery, treating complex brain and spinal conditions using robotic-assisted and minimally invasive techniques. Highly specialized units at JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) and Hadassah Medical Center focus on neuro-oncology, pediatric neurosurgery, and functional procedures.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgical departments often function as rapid-response hubs for international patients. Data shows that large centers like Sourasky, which serves 1,800,000 patients annually, can organize expert video consultations in a very short time. This speed is critical for neuro-oncology cases where starting treatment a few days earlier significantly impacts outcomes.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israeli teams often accept high-risk cases that other hospitals decline. They emphasize the importance of using local coordinators to manage travel logistics or potential local disruptions during their two-week stay.
International patients traveling to Israel for neurosurgery require a valid passport, an entry permit or medical visa, and a formal hospital invitation. You must provide recent MRI or CT scans in DICOM format and detailed medical summaries. Proof of private health insurance and financial stability are also mandatory for border entry.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top neurosurgeons at Hadassah Medical Center and Sourasky often request records 4–6 weeks before arrival. Submitting these early prevents appointment shifts. High-volume centers with over 30,000 annual operations have dedicated portals for secure DICOM file uploads. Using these ensures your surgeon reviews high-quality images before you land in Tel Aviv.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize bringing physical copies and digital backups of all scans on a USB drive. They also note that private insurance needs pre-authorization specifically for neurosurgery to avoid payment delays at the clinic.