MB BS, MS, PhD, FRACS
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Parkville Neurosurgery
Melbourne Private Hospital
Associate Professor Andrew S Davidson
Associate Professor Andrew Davidson is an academic neurosurgeon in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in the management of complex brain tumours and vascular malformations.
A/Prof Davidson is an Australian-trained neurosurgeon who has studied and worked in QLD, NSW, and VIC. He moved his practice to Melbourne in 2021, having previously worked at Macquarie Neurosurgery – Sydney’s leading academic neurosurgery group – for 13 years.
Dr Davidson works at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Melbourne Private Hospital. He is the neurosurgical lead for the Victorian Gamma Knife Centre at Peter Mac.
A/Prof Davidson also has an appointment as Clinical Associate Professor in the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology at University of Melbourne, and remains an Honorary Associate Professor at Macquarie University in Sydney.
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Associate Professor Davidson also holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy. LCDR Davidson has undertaken operation service in Bougainville and East Timor, and in 2021 completed a deployment to the Combined Joint Task Force – OIR Role 3 Hospital in the Middle East, where he was awarded the ADF Operational Service Medal.
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Dr Davidson is happy to see patients in the Parkville Neurosurgery rooms, or through the public hospital outpatient department at Royal Melbourne Hospital or Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
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Specialising in complex brain tumours and vascular malformations
Primary brain tumours
A tumour that develops first in the brain is called a primary brain tumour.
The most common primary tumours arise from the supporting cells in the brain and are called gliomas. These tumours can be benign (low-grade) or malignant (high-grade).
The most common primary brain tumour in adults is Glioblastoma.
Treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Skull base tumours
A variety of tumours arise in or near the base of the skull, including meningiomas, pituitary tumours, schwannomas, and metastatic cancers. Some of these tumours require large, complex, open surgical procedures; others can be reached using keyhole endoscopic techniques through the nose.
These tumours sometimes involve critical structures and cannot be completely removed. In this case, observation with scans, or radiation (including Gamma Knife radiosurgery) may be recommended.
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Metastatic brain tumours
Tumours that spread to the brain from another part of the body are called metastatic brain tumours, or secondary cancers. The most common cancers that spread to the brain include melanoma, lung, breast, kidney, and bowel.
Treatment may involve surgery or radiation, including Gamma Knife radiosurgery. The primary source of cancer may also need to be investigated and treated.
Brain aneurysms
A brain aneurysm is a bulge or a weak point in an artery in the brain. Most aneurysms are small, and don’t cause any symptoms. However, an aneurysm can leak or rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding in the brain.
Many aneurysms that haven’t bled can be observed with scans, but some aneurysms should be treated to prevent rupture.
Treatment options include surgical clipping or endovascular treatment (coiling or stenting).
Meningiomas
Meningiomas are tumours that arise from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The majority of meningiomas are benign, and can be removed with surgery.
However, some meningiomas grow in areas that are difficult to access or involve critical structures (like blood vessels and nerves) and cannot be completely removed. In this case, observation with scans, or radiation (including Gamma Knife radiosurgery) may be recommended.
Brain AVMs
Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are complex collections of abnormal arteries and veins within the brain. They usually present with bleeding in the brain, but can also cause seizures or headaches.
Several treatment options are available, including surgical resection, endovascular treatment or radiation (including Gamma Knife radiosurgery). Sometimes the safest option is to do nothing (observation with scans).
Gamma Knife
The Victorian Gamma Knife Service at Peter Mac was opened in February 2021 and is Victoria’s only Gamma Knife radiosurgery unit.
The Gamma Knife is used to deliver focused radiation to an intracranial target. It is a non-invasive alternative to open brain surgery for a variety of complex, difficult brain conditions.
During Gamma Knife treatment, 192 low-intensity radiation beams converge with high accuracy on a target. At the point where the beams merge, radiation dose is concentrated at the target, sparing healthy brain.
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Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles of the brain. There are a variety of causes, and hydrocephalus can affect people at any age.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus can sometimes present in older patients as dementia.
Treatment options include insertion of a shunt tube to divert fluid away from the brain, or keyhole surgery to create an internal diversion (endoscopic third ventriculostomy, or ETV).
Spinal surgery
Although most patients with back or neck pain do not require spinal surgery, sometimes an operation is the best way to relieve neurological symptoms associated with disc herniations, spinal canal stenosis, and spinal cord or nerve compression.
Surgical procedures range from simple decompression surgery (discectomy, laminectomy), to more complex procedures involving spinal fusion.