Best neurosurgeons in Italy: TOP 9 doctors

Professor Pietro Mortini MD is a highly experienced Italian neurosurgeon who specializes in neuro- and radiosurgeries with a focus on minimally invasive spine and brain operations. He is a Visiting Professor at the George Washington University, has a degree in Otorhinolaryngology and Neurosurgery from the University of Milan and University of Verona, and has patented a method of manufacturing a device for regenerating biological tissues. He also provides research in microsurgical therapy of pituitary adenomas and radiosurgery for uveal melanoma and is a member of the Italian Society of the Cranial Base.

Spine Neurosurgeon

Dr Lechanoine has worked mainly in France and Italy (CHU de Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France; CHRU de Tours, Tours, France; Ospedale Santobono, Naples, Italy; Orleans Hospital, Orleans, France, among others). He started a surgical collaboration in the pediatric field at the General Peltier Hospital in Djibouti (Africa) in 2019 and at the Meyer Children’s Hospital of Florence, Italy in 2023. His fields of interest in brain and spine surgery, both at a surgical and medical level, as well as research and university teaching, are the brainstem, intraventricular neuroendoscopy (hydrocephalus, tumors, etc.), transphenoidal endoscopy, (pituitary adenomas etc.), neurovascular conflict surgeries (MVD or DREZ rizothomy for trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm etc.), neurovascular malformations (aneurysms, cavernomas, AVM...), intracerebral and skull base tumors, pediatric neurosurgery and spine surgery (minimally invasive surgery: UBE Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy for discal herniation, spinal stenosis and foraminotomy; Anterior Cervical Disc Replacement (Prothesis); Fusion: MIS TLIF, ALIF, XLIF, percutaneous, ACDF...).

Education 

In 2012 he graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University de Caen, France, and specialized at the University of Tours France with Prof. Stéphane Velut and Patrick François, in 2018. His specialization thesis concerns the endoscopic treatment of intracranial arachnoid cysts in children.

Since his graduation he has attended numerous training courses, workshops and international congresses, obtaining French university degrees (in microsurgery, vascular neurosurgery, spine surgery and neuroscience) and, in particular, in 2019 obtaining the Diploma of the European Association of Neurosurgery Societies (EANS) and in 2018 the European Diploma of Spine Surgery (Eurospine). His Neurosurgery specialistic theses related Anatomical microstructure of the Brainstem- (MRI ex vivo Study at very high-field (11,7T) and very high-resolution - 3D APP) and Hydrocephalus and arachnoid cysts, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and description of endoscopic surgical techniques. 

He spent a period improving his skills in cerebrovascular surgery in the United States (Barrow Neurological Institute, Arizona, USA), in UBE spine endoscopy in Turkey and South Korea (Medicabil Hospital, Bursa, Turkey; Good Moonhwa Hospital, Busan, South Korea).

Research 

The areas of particular interest of Dr. Lechanoine, at the surgical, medical, research and university teaching level, are the brainstem, intraventricular neuroendoscopy (hydrocephalus, tumors, etc.) and transphenoidal (pituitary adenomas), vascular surgery and neurovascular conflicts, intracerebral and skull base tumors, pediatric neurosurgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. 

Dr Lechanoine is a member of the following societies: IFNE (International Federation of NeuroEndoscopy); ESPN (European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery); EANS (European Association of Neurosurgical Societies); SFNC (Société Française de NeuroChirurgie); ISUBE (International Society of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy). He actively participates in international congresses, both as a speaker and member. 

Dr Lechanoine remains also very active in teaching brain and spine endoscopy, by being a permanent tutor at the international ventricular and skull base endoscopy IFNE workshop in Naples, tutor at the French international workshop of spine endoscopy and speaker at the IFNE and Eurospine societies. He recently created an UBE surgical training center in Maria Cecilia Hospital.

Publications 

He is the author of numerous scientific publications in international journals and volumes, with the Total Impact Factor (IF) = 71.46

Awards

• "Prix du Chirurgien de l'Avenir" award 
• "Pedagogical Innovation Prize" award for the design of an 'app "Atlas of the microstructure of the brainstem", both from the French National Academy of Surgery

Dr. Maurizio Fornari is the Head of the Neurosurgery Unit in Humanitas Research Hospital.

After his specialization in neurosurgery in 1979 at the University of Milan, Dr. Fornari has followed courses in neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York (USA) and advanced courses in Spinal Surgery and skull base at the Center St. Louis (USA) and the Center of Albuquerque (USA).

Dr. Fornari specializes in the treatment of all major diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, from the compression of the spinal nerves (lumbar and cervical disc hernias, stenosis of the cervical canal, instability of the spine, spinal cord tumors), primary and secondary brain tumors, to congenital malformations of the central nervous system. Dr. Fornari is a recognized leader in the development of computer assisted spine surgery.

Dr. Fornari is a recognized leader in the development of minimally invasive surgery, who among the first has adopted bloodless methods such as micro decompression with unilateral approach for the treatment of lumbar stenosis instead of the much more invasive laminectomy.

Another dreaded disease, sometimes associated with stenosis or lumbar spondylolisthesis, which Dr. Fornari is approaching for quite a long time with the help of spinal navigation systems and intraoperative CT scan, which helps the work of the surgeon during the intervention, reducing invasiveness and risks for the patient, represent lumbar instability.

He and his team perform more than 1.300 surgeries a year, and he has one of the most important case studies in the world (data from a few years ago published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: 
http://thejns.org/action/doSearch?displaySummary=false&AllField=maurizio+fornari.) 

Since 2012, he teaches at the University of Milan. He is also Assistant Editor of "Advanced Technology in Neurosurgery" published by Sprinter Verlag Berlin Heldelberg (1988).

Publications: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=fornari%m

Dr. Federico Pessina is the Cranial Neurosurgey Unit Director.

Medical areas of interest: Brain tumors, glioblastomas, low grade gliomas, brain metastases, meningiomas, neuromas, cavernous angiomas, brain aneurysms

Surgical treatment with brain mapping techniques, awake and minimally invasive surgery of all central nervous system tumors.

Surgical treatment of highly complex tumors of the skull base and cranio-cervical hinge: meningiomas, neuromas, craniopharyngiomas, brain stem tumors.

All the tumor pathologies described above are addressed after multidisciplinary multi-specialist evaluation.

The surgical approach is customized to the patient and to the type of lesion, making use of the most advanced intraoperative techniques for malignant brain tumors (neuronavigation, intraoperative neurophysiology, intraoperative CT) and more complex approaches (anterior, posterior and combined petroosectomies, minimally invasive accesses) for benign diseases of the skull base such as meningiomas and neuromas.

Research areas of interest: Experimental protocols in the treatment of glioblastomas

- Prospective protocols in the treatment of brain metastases

- Role of surgical removal and integrated treatments in glioblastomas and malignant brain tumors

- Intracranial meningiomas

- Cadaver lab dissection

Author of more than 60 scientific publications and 5 book chapters, he is member of Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINCH).

In 2018 he joined the Scientific Committee of European Society of Neuroncology (EANO) and the Skull Base Surgery Committee of World Federation of Neurosurgical Society (WFNS).

Specialized training: 

Prof. Pessina obtained his Degree in Medicine and Surgery in University of  Insubria,  Varese, where he also completed his Residency Program.

From 2007 to 2008 he covered the role of Clinical Fellow in Neurosurgery in Lausanne University Hospital, focusing on image-guided intrinsic brain tumors resection and vascular neurosurgery

In 2018 he covered the Skull Base fellow position in Lariboisiere Hospital, Paris, fully dedicating to skull base surgery and hands-on dissection practice and teaching.

Since 2022, he is Full Professor in Neurosurgery (MED/27) in Humanitas University

Additional information of interest:

Member of the Scientific Committee of the European Association of Neuroncology (EANO)

Publications:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Pessina+Federico

Dr. Antonello Ceddia specializes in Neurosurgery.

He graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome where, in 1989, he also obtained a specialization in Neurosurgery. After specialization he is a researcher at the Institute of Neurosurgery of the La Sapienza University of Rome and the Institute of Neurosurgery of the Catholic University.

He deals in particular with the treatment of brain tumors and trigeminal neuralgia.

His training, mainly oriented towards Pediatric Neurosurgery and Neuro-Orthopaedics, was completed with attendance at important centers and clinics in the United States and Germany, and with participation in experimental programs and international courses.

After having worked as a Neurosurgeon Assistant in the Neurosurgery Division of the Casa Sollievo Sofferenza Hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, since 2005 he has held the position of Head of the Neurosurgery Unit in Bari.

Dr. [Name] is the Director of Mater Olbia Hospital Neurosurgery Unit and an Assistant Professor of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome. He has a Degree in Medicine and Surgery and a Certificate of Specialist in Neurosurgery. He specializes in the treatment of neuro-oncological, vascular and spinal pathologies and has performed over 4000 surgical procedures, of which over 2000 as first operator. He is experienced in minimally invasive surgical techniques and the use of modern technology such as intraoperative CT scans and ultrasounds.