In a remarkable medical first, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center have successfully removed a spinal tumor by accessing it through a patient’s eye socket. The pioneering procedure marks a new milestone in neurosurgery, offering fresh hope to patients facing rare and life-threatening tumors.

A Rare and Dangerous Diagnosis

The patient, 19-year-old Karla Flores, was diagnosed with a chordoma—a rare tumor that arises in the bones of the skull and spine. Although slow-growing, chordomas are highly invasive and often wrap around delicate structures such as nerves, arteries, and the spinal cord.

Flores’ tumor was lodged in her cervical spine, perilously close to critical blood vessels and nerves. Conventional surgery posed extraordinary risks, including paralysis, loss of vital functions, or even death. The location made traditional approaches nearly impossible without causing severe damage.

A Revolutionary Surgical Pathway

Faced with these challenges, neurosurgeon Dr. Mohamed A.M. Labib and his team adopted a bold approach. Rather than using large incisions, they employed a transorbital route—entering through the natural opening of the eye socket.

This technique, previously used in select brain tumor operations, was adapted for spinal surgery after extensive research. Surgeons created a precise corridor through the orbit, guided by advanced imaging, navigation systems, and specialized instruments.

The outcome was extraordinary: the tumor was removed, essential neurological functions were preserved, and the patient was left with no external scarring.

A Team Effort

The achievement was the result of collaboration across multiple specialties, including neurosurgery, head and neck surgery, radiation oncology, and spinal reconstruction. After the tumor removal, Flores received proton radiation therapy—a highly targeted treatment designed to minimize collateral damage—as well as spinal fusion to stabilize her neck.

Recovery and Inspiration

Today, Flores is cancer-free and regaining strength. Her case has been hailed as a breakthrough in minimally invasive neurosurgery.

“This is the first step in a new direction,” said Dr. Labib. “Areas of the spine once considered too dangerous to operate on may now be accessible with less invasive methods.”

Redefining the Future of Neurosurgery

The success of this transorbital approach could transform how surgeons treat complex spinal and skull base tumors. By reducing trauma, shortening recovery times, and avoiding disfiguring scars, it may become an invaluable option for conditions once thought untreatable.

Experts believe the method could one day be expanded to treat other spinal and cranial conditions, pushing the boundaries of what modern medicine can achieve.

A New Era in Surgical Innovation

For Flores, the operation was life-saving. For the medical community, it represents a new era—where procedures once deemed impossible can now be performed with precision and minimal invasiveness.

As more hospitals explore and refine this approach, the promise is clear: safer surgeries, faster recoveries, and renewed hope for patients facing the most complex of diagnoses.