Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Dvora Blumental
30 years of experience
Clinic is certified :
Brain cancer treatment cost in Israel typically involves diagnostic imaging like PET-CT, which costs $1,300 to $1,800, and specialized oncology consultations. Pricing and treatment strategies depend on tumor pathology, the need for advanced neurosurgery, and the clinic's facility tier. Patients can save approximately 30-50% compared to the United States. Leading medical hubs for neuro-oncology include Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Petah Tikva.
Typical Brain Cancer Treatment Costs in Israel
Bookimed Expert Insight: Complex neuro-oncology cases benefit from JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky Medical Center, which reports a 90% oncology success rate. For pediatric patients, the Schneider Center provides specialized care in Petah Tikva. Private options like Assuta Medical Center are best for patients seeking a specific surgeon. Those requiring multidisciplinary integration find value at Hadassah, which manages over 40,000 surgeries annually.
| Israel | Turkey | Austria | |
| Stereotaxic radiosurgery | from $19,000 | from $4,500 | from $17,000 |
| Proton-beam therapy | from $48,000 | from $70,000 | from $80,000 |
| Gamma Knife | from $13,800 | from $6,300 | from $32,000 |
| CyberKnife | from $17,500 | from $4,750 | from $50,000 |
| Craniotomy | from $28,500 | from $5,650 | from $20,000 |
Prof. Zvi Cohen is Director of the Neurosurgery Department and the Neuro-Oncology Unit at Sheba Medical Center. He is a neurosurgeon and neuro-oncology expert. He was included in Forbes Israel’s Best Doctors 2025. He leads clinical research on drug therapies for malignant brain tumors. He also founded Sheba’s brain tumor tissue bank.
He is board-certified in neurosurgery. He trained at Tel Aviv University. He completed fellowships in neuroradiology at Beth Israel and in neurosurgical oncology at MD Anderson. His practice covers complex brain, pituitary, spine, and spinal cord tumors. He has expertise in stereotactic biopsies, image-guided resections, intraoperative MRI, navigation systems, and radiosurgery. He is a member of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the Israeli Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Yuri Goldes is a general surgeon with more than 20 years of clinical experience. He specializes in upper gastrointestinal and oncologic surgery. He is Deputy Director of the Department of General Surgery and Transplantation at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv. He also leads the Upper GI Surgery Unit. He was named to Forbes Israel’s Best Doctors in 2025. He is ranked among Israel’s Best Gastrointestinal Surgeons by Forbes. In 2019, he received the Israeli Ministry of Health “Best Doctor of the Year” award.
He is an expert in advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgery. He treats diaphragmatic hernia, achalasia, GERD, and gallbladder disease. He also performs oncologic surgery for pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancers. He uses laparoscopic and robotic techniques.
He pioneered some of Israel’s first robotic oncologic resections of the stomach and pancreas. He is among a small group worldwide who perform minimally invasive Whipple procedures (pancreaticoduodenectomy) using advanced laparoscopy. He applies methods that improve outcomes and speed recovery. He provides personalized care.
900+ brain cancer treatments performed – Dr. Blumental leads the Neuro-oncology Service at Sourasky Medical Center.
Head of the Neurooncology Clinic at Ichilov (Sourasky Medical Center) – Dr. Bokstein leads a specialized team focused entirely on brain tumors.
Israel is a global hub for neuro-oncology, offering innovative treatments like Tumor Treating Fields (Optune), CAR-T cell therapy, and intraoperative MRI. Specialized centers utilize robotic-assisted surgery and DaRT therapy to target aggressive glioblastomas. These advancements provide high precision while preserving critical brain functions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers like Sheba and Sourasky operate at a massive scale, treating up to 2 million patients annually. This high volume allows surgeons like Dr. Zvi Cohen to maintain a brain tumor tissue bank. This resource is vital for developing personalized vaccine protocols and pharmacological therapies tailored to a patient's specific genetic profile. Choosing a facility with an integrated tissue bank often leads to more precise treatment options.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israel offers faster access to experimental immunotherapy combinations than the US. Many emphasize that while costs are high, the ability to access portable device refinements and compassionate-use CAR-T programs is a significant advantage.
Israel hosts several global leaders in neuro-oncology, with Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) ranked among the worlds best. These JCI-accredited facilities offer advanced craniotomies and stereotactic radiosurgery. They feature specialized units led by world-renowned neurosurgeons like Prof. Zvi Ram.
Bookimed Expert Insight: A major differentiator at Sheba Medical Center is their specialized brain tumor tissue bank. This resource allows researchers to tailor pharmacological therapies to specific genetic markers. While surgery costs for tumor removal may reach approximately $35,000, these packages often include extensive post-operative monitoring and 10 days of hotel stay to ensure patient stability before travel.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that major centers like Sheba often offer proton therapy options with fewer side effects than comparable facilities. They also emphasize that private coordination can significantly reduce wait times for non-citizens seeking aggressive tumor resections.
An awake craniotomy is a neurosurgical procedure where patients remain conscious to interact with surgeons. This technique allows real-time brain mapping to remove tumors located near eloquent regions. It is performed in Israel to preserve essential functions like speech, vision, and motor control.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgeons like Dr. Zvi Ram at Sourasky Medical Center utilize advanced intraoperative MRI and brain mapping for high-precision cases. Packages at Sheba Medical Center, priced around $35,000, include an extensive 7-day hospital stay. This long stay allows for essential post-operative neuro-checks to monitor brain swelling safely.
Patient Consensus: Patients note the awake phase usually lasts 1 to 2 hours with minimal physical pain. They emphasize that practicing tasks during pre-op simulation sessions significantly reduces anxiety during the actual procedure.
Patients should plan for a 17 to 24 day stay in Israel for surgical brain cancer treatment. This period includes 5 to 7 days of hospitalization and additional time for recovery. Follow-up reviews at centers like Sheba Medical Center ensure stability before international travel.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers like Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center manage extremely high patient volumes. Sheba alone treats over 2 million patients annually. Our data shows that top-tier neurosurgeons like Dr. Zvi Cohen often utilize intensive 7-day hospital stays. This ensures immediate access to neuro-oncology teams. This setup helps catch any subtle post-operative changes early for better recovery.
Patient Consensus: Patients find the transition from hospital to local hotels smooth but emphasize staying close to the clinic. Many note that having an on-site nutritionist and nurse support helps manage the initial recovery phase.
Patients can obtain a remote second opinion from senior Israeli specialists before traveling. Major medical centers like Sourasky, Sheba, and Hadassah provide virtual consultations via video platforms. Expert neuro-oncologists review diagnostics like brain MRI or PET/CT scans to confirm treatment plans or suggest advanced surgical options.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that choosing a second opinion from Sheba Medical Center often streamlines physical admission. Their comprehensive craniotomy packages, priced around $35,000, already include essential diagnostics like head MRI and histopathology revision. Starting with a remote consultation here helps ensure your local test results align with their surgical requirements before you fly.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to have all digital scans ready in high resolution. They often mention that a virtual talk with an Israeli specialist provides immense peace of mind before such a major journey.