A closer look at the hospital

Huashan reported 16,226 neurosurgical operations in 2023, with 85.23% classified as grade IV, China’s highest surgical complexity category. Nearly 800 approved neurosurgical beds and 40 dedicated operating rooms support this specialist service. For brain tumor patients, key strengths include glioma surgery, preservation of language and movement, and difficult skull-base and pituitary tumors.

A 321-patient randomized glioma trial published in 2024 provides a concrete measure of its surgical research: complete resection was achieved in 83.85% with intraoperative MRI versus 50% with conventional navigation. This addresses the important question of removing more tumor. Complete resection is a surgical endpoint, not a cure rate; pathology and molecular findings guide subsequent treatment.

Intraoperative imaging, awake surgery, brain mapping and electrophysiological monitoring help identify tumor boundaries and critical brain functions. For tumors near language, movement or visual pathways, this allows surgical planning to consider both removal and life after surgery.

Pituitary disease is a separate high-volume specialty. The hospital’s end-2024 profile records more than 25,000 cumulative pituitary surgical pathology cases and over 2,000 operations annually. Many pituitary tumors are benign, so this is pituitary and sellar experience rather than a malignant brain cancer surgery count.

Clinical strengths

Glioma and preservation of brain function

Glioma care requires careful consideration of tumour resection and neurological function. Huashan’s clinical and research work includes functional mapping, navigation and intraoperative imaging to clarify relationships with important brain areas. The appropriate techniques depend on location, the patient’s condition and the surgical goal.

Surgery also provides tissue for pathological and molecular classification. Those results and the extent of resection inform subsequent radiation, medicines and follow-up, connecting preoperative planning with longer-term care.

Skull-base and difficult-location tumours

Skull-base tumours may lie near cranial nerves and major vessels. Subspecialty review helps match the case to the location and consider the surgical approach, staged care or integration with other treatments.

Pituitary tumors: surgery, hormones and vision

Huashan’s pituitary service brings together neurosurgery, endocrinology and related specialties for hormone disorders, visual compression and large sellar tumors. Alongside endoscopic transnasal surgery, the team studies combined transcranial and transnasal approaches for complex tumors that are difficult to reach through a single route.

Treatment may focus on hormone control, relieving optic nerve compression or combining surgery with radiation. Preserving vision and endocrine function and managing residual tumor are considered together.

Neuro-oncology beyond surgery

Huashan treats glioma, meningioma, brain metastases and spinal tumors. Its neurosurgical teams combine microsurgery, endoscopy, functional mapping and molecular pathology to plan resection while protecting neurological function.

Specialists including Yu Yao also work on postoperative treatment of malignant brain tumors. In recurrent disease, new imaging, prior radiotherapy and molecular results guide reassessment of surgery and other options. Investigational therapies require separate eligibility review.

Dermatology and skin tumor surgery

Dermatology is a longstanding Huashan strength, spanning complex inflammatory and immune-related disease, hair disorders and skin surgery. Wenyu Wu and colleagues perform surgery for benign and malignant skin tumors, considering excision, reconstruction and function together.

Accurate pathology and surgical margins are particularly important at sensitive sites such as the face. Skin problems during cancer treatment also require careful diagnosis before a treatment plan is chosen.

Infectious diseases and chronic liver disease

Huashan’s National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases supports expertise in difficult infections, pathogen diagnosis and chronic liver disease. Wenhong Zhang’s clinical work emphasizes evidence-based identification and individualized management of infectious disease.

Fever or liver abnormalities during cancer care may have several causes. Infection specialists can contribute when chronic liver disease, recurrent infections or complex medication histories complicate treatment.

Hand surgery, peripheral nerves and functional reconstruction

Hand and peripheral nerve surgery are further Huashan strengths. Wendong Xu’s team works on peripheral nerve injury, upper-limb dysfunction and nerve-transfer research, linking microsurgery with functional recovery.

This expertise is relevant to selected patients with major upper-limb impairment. Assessment depends on the cause, site of nerve injury and rehabilitation potential, and follows a different referral pathway from brain tumor surgery.

Specialists & clinical teams

Jinsong Wu, Ying Mao and the glioma team

Glioma surgery and preservation of brain function

When a glioma lies near language or motor pathways, the extent of removal and preservation of function must be considered together. Wu, Mao and colleagues conducted a 321-patient randomized comparison of intraoperative MRI and conventional navigation, published in the European Journal of Cancer in 2024. Combined with the team’s functional-mapping work, this experience is relevant to defining surgical boundaries in difficult locations.

View supporting source

Yao Zhao

Giant pituitary tumors and complex sellar surgery

Zhao’s team published a clinical cohort study of combined transnasal and transcranial surgery for complex giant pituitary adenomas. This addresses tumors that are difficult to expose through one route alone. His distinct focus is extensive sellar disease, including compression of the visual pathways or residual tumor, with attention to vision, hormone function and treatment after surgery.

View supporting source

Study results describe selected patient groups, not an individual doctor’s success rate. Availability, case acceptance and the treating team require hospital confirmation.

Your international care journey

Send full MRI studies, pathology and prior treatment, with recent symptom changes, seizures and current medicines. Confirm the locations of neurosurgical consultation, imaging and admission separately. The clinical team should assess whether the proposed travel is appropriate for the patient’s condition.

Share your records and questions
Send the diagnosis, pathology, imaging and treatment history. Explain whether you want a second opinion, information about a treatment or an in-person visit. We help organise the records and identify missing information.
Confirm the specialty and acceptance
The relevant service confirms whether it can accept the case and whether pathology review or more records are needed. The hospital determines whether remote assessment or a multidisciplinary opinion is appropriate.
Agree appointments, costs and travel
Confirm the campus, first appointment, proposed assessment and payment requirements before arranging visas, accommodation, transport and interpreting. Discuss caregivers and length of stay when repeated treatment is expected.
Attend assessment and discuss the plan
The clinicians assess the case, arrange necessary tests and explain suitable options, expected benefits and risks. Discuss costs and logistics alongside the clinical plan before deciding on the next step.
Stay informed during treatment
Agreed support can include appointments, interpreting and communication during care. Keep track of questions and clinical feedback, and review schedules, costs and family arrangements if the treatment plan changes.
Return home with a follow-up plan
Before departure, collect the discharge summary, pathology and imaging, medicines and follow-up plan. Clarify pending reports and contact arrangements, with support for communication between local and treating clinicians where agreed.

What to prepare for the first enquiry

Prepare the original contrast-enhanced MRI, pathology and molecular report, prior radiotherapy plan and a short account of seizures, weakness, language or memory changes.

Diagnosis & pathology

Diagnosis summary, complete pathology, immunohistochemistry, available molecular tests and where tissue is held.

Original imaging

Recent and pretreatment imaging studies with reports and dates, so changes can be compared.

Treatment timeline

Operations, radiotherapy plans, each drug regimen, responses and major side effects; current medicines and allergies.

Your practical needs

Home country, preferred language, possible travel dates, caregiver needs and the questions you want answered.

Start with the records you already have. We can help identify gaps; do not arrange additional tests solely to make an enquiry.

See the full records checklist

Practical details to settle before travel

Costs & payment

Ask what the hospital estimate includes, deposits, additional charges and refund arrangements. Plan travel and living costs separately. Insurance coverage and direct billing require confirmation.

Language & records

Confirm interpreting for appointments, communication during treatment and the language of records. Our China coordination includes Chinese and English support; other languages need advance confirmation of availability and arrangements.

Campus, accommodation & caregivers

Consultations, tests and admission may take place at different sites. Distance, accessibility, caregiver rules and follow-up frequency all affect the itinerary and should be considered once the clinical plan is clearer.

Length of stay & returning home

Assessment, surgery, radiotherapy and cellular treatment have different schedules. Ask the hospital for the expected course, allowing for results and changes in the plan. Confirm readiness to return home with the clinical team.

How Chirona can help

From organising records and contacting an appropriate specialty to travel in China and follow-up at home, we help connect the practical steps. Tell us the diagnosis, treatment so far and the question you most want answered.

Make your history easier to review

Organise treatments and key reports, help with necessary translation and bring the important questions to the clinician.

Find the appropriate clinical service

Enquire with the relevant specialty, follow up on record requirements and help clarify acceptance and appointments.

Coordinate the practical steps in China

Within the agreed scope, help with visa documentation, travel, arrival transport, accommodation and accompaniment.

Keep communication connected

Help organise consultation feedback, records for home and follow-up requirements, with continued contact as agreed.

The hospital and clinicians make diagnostic, treatment and acceptance decisions. Chirona provides consultation and care coordination within the agreed scope.

Explore our service process

Questions before you decide

What should I send besides the MRI report?

Send the original imaging studies, with earlier MRI for comparison. After previous surgery, include pathology, molecular tests, the operation report and radiotherapy plan. A written imaging report alone is often insufficient for detailed surgical planning.

Can I request one of the specialists featured here?

Tell us your preference and we can help enquire. The hospital confirms acceptance, the specialist’s involvement and who provides outpatient or inpatient care. It may also recommend another suitable clinician within the specialty.

Can I contact Chirona before choosing a hospital?

Yes. Share the diagnosis, treatment history and the decision you need help with. We can organise the questions to consider when comparing hospitals and explain the coordination available.

Does submitting records confirm treatment?

Submitting records starts the assessment. The hospital must confirm acceptance and clinical suitability and may require more information or in-person tests. Appointment confirmation, the treatment plan and costs should be clarified separately.

Sources & further reading

Profiles draw on the institutional sources below, including historical material where it explains a programme’s development. Appointments, services and research recruitment can change and need confirmation when enquiring.