Playing a guitar during an awake craniotomy at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s X page recently posted about a musician undergoing brain tumor surgery:

“Christian Nolen usually plays guitar on stage, but last December he was playing notes from songs while a Sylvester neurosurgical team worked to remove his brain tumor.

Nolen was awakened during a delicate part of the procedure – an awake craniotomy – so surgeons could evaluate and protect his manual dexterity while aggressively removing the tumor.

Ricardo Komotar, MD, brain and tumor neurosurgeon leading the team, said Nolen had a glioma in his right frontal lobe, near the area controlling lefthanded movement. Nolen has resumed his active lifestyle and guitar playing, beginning 2024 on a high note.”

Further details.
Source: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/X