Hrayr Shahinian

Hrayr Shahinian, M.D., F.A.C.S. is exclusively a skull base surgeon and founder of the Skull Base Institute (SBI). Since 1994 Dr. Shahinian has pioneered numerous new endoscopic surgical techniques to treat a variety of skull base disorders and is nationally and internationally recognized as one of the first surgeons in the world to use and pioneer endoscopic skull base surgery. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery and licensed to practice in California since 1996.[1] He completed his undergraduate studies at the American University of Beirut in 1981 and earned his M.D. in 1985. He earned both degrees with distinction and has been an active member of the honor medical society, Alpha Omega Alpha. In 1986, Dr. Shahinian was recruited to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he completed an internship and residency in general surgery.

In 1991, Dr. Shahinian went to New York University’s Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, the premier craniofacial program in the nation where he completed a two-year fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery.[2]

Thereafter, in 1993, he completed a fellowship in skull base surgery and neurotology in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery in Zurich, Switzerland under the tutelage of Professor Ugo Fisch, the preeminent skull base surgeon in the world at the time.

In 1994, Dr. Shahinian completed a second fellowship, in craniofacial surgery, at New York University. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1992, recertified in 2003 and 2014, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons since 2002.

From 1994-1996, Dr. Shahinian served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery and Neurosurgery at the State University of New York at Stonybrook, during which time he was also Co-Director (1994-1995), and then Director (1995-1996) of the University’s Skull Base Institute .

In 1996, Dr. Shahinian was recruited by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to establish and head its Division of Skull Base Surgery and to direct its Skull Base Institute.[3] Dr. Shahinian accepted the offer, relocated to California and was instrumental in establishing what has become one of the country’s largest practices specializing in minimally-invasive endoscopic skull base and brain tumor surgery: The Skull Base Institute (SBI) in Los Angeles.

As Director of SBI for nearly 20 years, Dr. Shahinian has been actively involved in the treatment of a wide variety of skull base and brain tumors including pituitary tumors, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, craniopharyngiomas, pineal tumors, and intracranial neurovascular conflicts such as trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm in thousands of patients, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Shahinian provides a less invasive alternative to the procedures traditionally advanced by neurosurgeons.[4] Neurosurgeons from the United States as well as Barcelona, Marseilles, Brussels, Cairo, Kiev, Rome and Czech republic have come to Dr. Shahinian for observation and training in Skull Base Surgery. In the past year, patients from Norway, Ireland, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and most of our 50 states have had surgeries via the endoscopic approaches pioneered by SBI with excellent results.[5]

Dr. Shahinian has received many awards for his work in skull base surgery and has shared his experience and expertise in numerous journal articles, textbook chapters, and national and international presentations. He is also the author of the textbook, “Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery,” which was published by Humana Press in 2009,[6] and was one of the top 25% most downloaded eBooks in the on-line publisher’s collection in 2013.[7]

Dr. Shahinian holds a number of patents and has thrice received the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Innovation Award in 2008, 2011 and 2012 for his work in the field of advanced medical technology.[8] Currently, he is working with NASA on the development of a multi-angle rear-viewing endoscopic tool (MARVEL), which will be the world’s first 3D/HD rotating endoscope less than 4.0 mm in overall diameter and will further advance the field of endoscopic skull base brain surgery.[9]

Awards and Distinctions Granted:

Name of Award Year
Bachelor of Science with Distinction 1981
Alpha Omega Alpha 1984
Doctor of Medicine with Distinction 1985
J. William Hillman Teaching Award 1990, 1991
Harwell Wilson Award for Excellence as a Surgical Resident 1991
Thomas E. Brittingham House Staff Teaching Award 1991
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Innovation Award 2008, 2011, 2012
Conditions Dr. Shahinian Treats:
Acoustic Neuroma
Acromegaly
Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Brain
Bell's Palsy
Brain Aneurysm
Brain Injury
Brain Tumor
Craniofacial Disorders
Craniospinal Trauma
Craniosynostosis
Cushing's Disease
CSF Leak
Craniopharyngioma
Chordoma
Facial Trauma
Facial Pain
Fibrous Dysplasia
Gigantism
Headaches
Hemifacial Spasm
Hydrocephalus
Hypopituitarism
Meningioma
Pineal Lesions
Pituitary Tumor
Prolactinoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Schwannoma
Skull Fractures
Skull Base Tumors
Tinnitus
Trigeminal Neuralgia

Post-Graduate Training

Fellow, Craniofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Instit ute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 1994.

Fellow, Skull Base Surgery, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, 1993-1994.

Fellow, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 1991-1993.

Resident, General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 1986-1991.

Research Associate Department of Surgery The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1985-1986.

Degrees

Faculty of Medicine, The American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

Pritzker Medical School, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 1985, Doctor of Medicine with Distinction, Dean’s Honor List, Med. I, II, III, IV.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences, The American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, June 1981, Bachelor of Science with Distinction, Dean’s Honor List 1979, 1980, 1981.

Professional Experience

Director, Cedars-Sinai Skull Base Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 1996-2004.

Co-Director, The Pituitary Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 1996-2004.

Director, Skull Base Institute, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 1995-1996.

Co-Director, Skull Base Institute, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 1994

Chief of Service, Division of Skull Base Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 1996-2004.

Assistant Professor of Surgery and Neurosurgery, Departments of Surgery and Neurosurgery, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 1994-1996.

Assistant Clinical Professor, Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 1994-1996.

Attending Surgeon, Department of Surgery, United States Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY, 1994-1996.

Published Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

1. Michelassi F, Shahinian HK, Ferguson MK: Effects of Leukotrienes B4, C4 and D4 on rat mesenteric microcirculation. Journal of Surgical Research 42:703-707, 1987.

2. Ramadan HH, Hamdan US, Samara MA, Shahinian HK: Penetrating neck injuries during the Lebanese War: AUBMC experience Laryngoscope 97(8 pt 1):975-977,1987.

3. Shahinian HK, Ferguson MK, Michelassi F: Effects of histamine and histamine receptor antagonists on rat mesenteric microcirculation. Journal of Surgical Research 42:73-707, 1987.

4. Ferguson MK, Shahinian HK, Michelassi F: Lymphatic smooth muscle responses to Leurkotriene, histamine and platelet activating factor. Journal of Surgical Research 44: 172-177, 1988.

5. Shahinian HK, Sciadini M, Stinger D, Reynolds V: Tubular Adenoma of the main pancreatic duct. Archives of Surgery 12(10):1254-1255, 1992.

6. Biro P, Shahinian HK: Management of difficult intubation caused by lingual tonsillar hyperplasia. Anesth. Analg 79:389-99, 1994.

7. Diasio RB, Lu Z, Zhang R, Shahinian HK: Fluoropyrimidine catabolism. Cancer Treat Research 78:71-93, 1995.

8. Manzione JV, Shahinian HK: Interventional neuroradiology and skull base surgery. The Radiology Letter 1-3, 1995.

9. Shahinian HK, Dornier C, Fisch U: Parapharyngeal space tumors: The infratemporal fossa approach. Skull Base Surgery 2(5):73-81, 1995.

10. Zhang R, Yan J, Shahinian HK, Amin G, Lu Z, Liu T, Saag MS, Jiang Z, Temsamani J, Martin RR: Pharmacokinetics of an anti-human immunodeficiency virus antisense oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioate (GEM 91) in HIV-infected subjects. Clin Pharmacol Ther 58(1):44-53, 1995.

11. Shahinian HK, Jaekle R, Suh RH, Jarrahy R, Aguilar VC, Soojian M: Obstetrical factors, governing the etiopathogenesis of lamboid syntosis. Am J. Perinato 15(5):281-6, 1998.

12. Shahinian HK, Suh RH, Jarrahy R: Combined infratemporal fossa and transfacial approach to excising massive tumors. ENT Journal 78(5):350,356, 1999.

13. Jarrahy R, Suh R, Berci G, Shahinian HK: Endoscopic pituitary surgery: An in vivo model for transnasal transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. J Lap & Adv Surg Tech 9(2):211-21, 1999.

14. Jarrahy R, Suh R, Shahinian HK: Viability and functionality of human fetal pituitary cells transplanted into hypophysectomized rats. Skull Base Surgery 9(Sup.1):15-16, 1999.

15. Jarrahy R, Young J, Berci G, Shahinian HK: Endoscopic skull base surgery I: A new animal model for pituitary surgery. J Invest Surg 12:1-6, 1999.

16. Jarrahy R, Young J, Berci G, Shahinian HK: Endoscopic skull base surgery II: A new animal model for surgery of the posterior fossa. J Invest Surg 12:335-339, 1999.

17. Levine JP, Bradley JP, Longaker MT, Shahinian HK: Nasal expansion in the fetal lamb: A first step toward management of cleft nasal deformity in utero. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 103(3):761-7, 1999.

18. Mathiasen RA, Jarrahy R, Cha ST, Bonert VK, Shahinian HK: Pituitary Lymphoma: A case report and literature review. Pituitary 4:283-287, 1999.

19. Bradly JP, Shahinian HK, Levine JP, Rowe NM, Longaker MT: Growth restriction of cranial sutures in the fetal lamb causes deformational changes, not craniosynostosis. Plastic Reconstr. Surg 105:2416-23, 2000.

20. Cha ST, Mathiasen RA, Jarrahy R, Suh R, Shahinian HK: Cerebellopontine angle metastasis from papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: case report and literature review. Surgical Neurology. 54(4):320-326, 2000.

21. Jarrahy R, Berci G, Shahinian HK: Assessment of the efficacy of endoscopy in pituitary adenoma resection. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 126(12):1487-1490, 2000.

22. Jarrahy R, Berci G, Shahinian HK: Endoscope-assisted microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve. Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. 123(3):218-23, 2000.

23. Jarrahy R, Cha ST, Berci G, Shahinian HK: Endoscopic transglabellar approach to the anterior fossa and paranasal sinuses. J Craniofac Surg. 11(5):412-7, 2000.

24. Jarrahy R, Cha ST, Mathiasen RA, Shahinian HK: Congenital teratoma of the oropharyngeal cavity with intracranial extension: case report and literature review. J Craniofac Surg. 11(2):106-12, 2000.

25. Jarrahy R, Shahinian HK: Surgical Management of Pituitary Tumors. Pituitary. Volume 3, No. 1, pg12, 2000.

26. Maheshwari HG, Prezant TR, Herman-Bonert V, Shahinian HK, Kovacs K, Melmed S: Long-acting peptidomimergic control of gigantism Caused by Pituitary Acidophilic Stem Cell Adenoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 85(9):3409-3416, 2000.

27. Shahinian HK: Minimally invasive procedure offering benefits for tumor treatment. Laparoscopic Surgery Update. 8(11): 121-132, 2000.

28. Eby J, Cha ST, Shahinian HK: Fully endoscopic vascular decompression of the facial nerve for hemifacial spasm. Skull Base Surgery. 11(3):189-196, 2001.

29. Jarrahy R, Cha ST, Shahinian HK: Retained foreign body in the orbit and cavernous sinus with delayed presentation of superior orbital fissure syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 12(1):82-6, 2001.

30. Mathiasen, RA, Eby JB, Jarrahy R, Marguilies DR, Shahinian HK: A dedicated craniofacial and skull base trauma team improves efficiency and reduces cost. Journal of Surg Research. 97(2):138-143, 2001.

31. Cha ST, Eby JB, Katzen JT, Shahinian HK: Trigeminocardiac reflex: a unique case of recurrent asystole during bilateral trigeminal sensory root rhizotomy. J. Craniomaxillofacial Surg. 14(2): 108-111, 2002.

32. Cha ST, Jarrahy R, Yong W, Eby J, Shahinian HK: Rare symptomatic presentation of eccordosis physaliphora and unique endoscope-assisted surgical management. Minimally Inv. Neurosurg. 45:36-39, 2002.

33. Jarrahy R, Eby JB, Cha ST, Shahinian HK: Fully endoscopic vascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve. Minimally Inv. Neurosurg. 45:32-35, 2002.

34. Jarrahy R, Eby J, Shahinian HK: State of the Art: a new powered endoscope holding arm for endoscopic surgery of the cranial base. Minimally Inv. Neurosurg. 45:189-192, 2002.

35. Jarrahy R, Cha ST, Berci G, Shahinian HK: Fully endoscopic vascular decompression of the glossopharyngeal nerve. J Craniofacial Surg. 13(1):90-95, 2002.

36. Vidal S, Horvath E, Bonert V, Shahinian HK, Kovacs K: Neural transformation in a pituitary corticotroph adenoma. Acta Neuropathol. 104:435-440, 2002.

37. Katzen JT, Jarrahy R, Eby JB, Mathiasen RA, Margulies DR, Shahinian HK: Craniofacial and skull base trauma. Journal of Trauma. 54(5):1026-1034, 2003.

38. Shahinian HK, Eby JB, Ocon M: Fully Endoscopic Excision of Vestibular Schwannomas. Minim. Invas. Neurosurg.47: 329-332, 2004.

39. Zhu Y, Shahinian HK, Hakimian B, Bonert V, Lim S, Heaney A: “Temodar: Novel treatment for pituitary carcinoma.” Case Report, ENDO 2004, New Orleans.

40. Friedman TC, Shahinian HK: Bilateral cerebral aneurysms impinging on the pituitary. Pituitary 7:1-2, 2005.

41. Kabil MS, Jarrahy R, Shahinian HK: The Application of Craniofacial Techniques and Intracranial Endoscopy to Pituitary Surgery. J Craniofac Surg. 16(5):2005.

42. Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: Application of the Supraorbital Endoscopic Approach to Tumors of the Anterior Cranial Base. J Craniofac Surg. 16(6): 1070-1074, November 2005.

43. Kabil MS, Eby JB, Shahinian HK: Fully Endoscopic Transnasal vs. Transseptal Transphenoidal Pituitary Surgery. Neurosurg Q 15(3):2005.

44. Kabil MS, Eby JB, Shahinian HK: Endoscopic Vascular Decompression vs. Microvascular Decompression of the Trigeminal Nerve. Minim. Inv. Neurosurg. 48:4, 2005.

45. Patel PM, Shahinian, HK, Friedman TC: Cushing’s Disease Is Not Necessarily a Progressive and Fatal Disease. Endocrinologist 15(6): 343-344, 2005.

46. Kabil MS, Eby JB, Shahinian HK: Fully Endoscopic Endonasal vs. Transseptal Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery. Minim Invasive Neurosurg.; 48(6): 348-354, Dec 2005.

47. Lim S, Shahinian HK, Maya M, Yong W, Heaney PA: Temozolomide: A Novel Treatment for Pituitary Carcinomas. The Lancet Oncology 7: 518-20 June 2006.

48. Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: The Endoscopic Supraorbital Approach to Tumors of the Middle Cranial Base. 66(4):396-401; discussion 40, 2006.

49. Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: A Fully Endoscopic Supraorbital Suprafrontal Approach to Frontal and Frontoparietal Convexity/Parasagittal Meningiomas. Neurosurgery Q. 16(4):177-182, 2006.

50. Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: A Series of 112 Fully Endoscopic Resections of Vestibular Schwannomas. Minim. Inv. Neurosurg; 49(6): 362-368, Dec 2006.

51. Friedman TC, Zuckerbraun E, Lee ML, Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: Dynamic Pituitary MRI Has High Sensitivity and Specificity for the Diagnosis of Mild Cushing’s Syndrome and Should be Part of the Initial Workup. Horm Metab Res; 39: 451-456, 2007.

52. Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: "Fully endoscopic supraorbital resection of congenital middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts: a report of 2 cases" Pediatric Neurosurgery, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp 316 – 322, 2007.

53. Yuen K, Cook D, Sahasranam P, Patel P, Ghods D, Shahinian HK, Friedman T: “Prevalence of GH and other anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies in adults with nonsecreting pituitary microadenomas and normal serum IGF-1 levels.” Clinical Endocrinology 69: 292-298, 2008.

54. Manohara H, Liao A, Bae Y, Shahinian HK: “Multi-Angle and Rear Viewing Endoscopic tool, (MARVEL).” CALTECH tech brief NTR #45579.

55. Manohara H, Bae SY, Shahinian HK: “Stereo Imaging Miniature Endoscope with Single Chip and Conjugated Multi-bandpass Filters.” CALTECH tech brief NTR.

56. Bae SY, Page N, Wrigley C, Mouroulis P, Liao A, Cunningham T, Shahinian HK, Manohara H: “Miniature HD Stereo-Endoscope and Smart Tools for Minimally Invasive Skull Base Surgeries.” NASA Journal, April 14, 2010.

57. Bae SY, Manohara H, White V, Shcheglov KV, Shahinian HK: "Stereo Imaging Miniature Endoscop." NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Tech Brief, June 1, 2010

58. Kowalczyk R, Bae SY, Korniski R, Shahinian HK, Manohara H: “Advanced Miniaturized Robotic Surgical Instruments: MARVEL; Multi-Axis Rear Viewing Endoscopic tooL.” National Aeronautics and Space Administration Tech Brief, July 6, 2010.

59. Bae SY, Kovniski R, Kowalczyk R, Shahinian HK, Manohara H: “ 3-D Stereoscopic Endoscope Using Conjugate Multiband Filter Technique.” National Aeronautics and Space Administration Tech Brief, July 6, 2010.

Published Book Chapters

60. Shahinian HK: “Tumors and Surgery of the Skull Base”. In: Aston S, Beasley R, Thorne C, Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. 5th ed. Boston: Little Brown & Company. Chap 39: 459-462, 1997.

61. Jarrahy R, Shahinian HK: “Surgical Management of Pituitary Tumors”. In: DeGroot LJ, Jameson JL, eds. Endocrinology. 4th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co. Chap 26:343-353, 2000.

62. Katzen JT, Eby JB, Evans NE, Shahinian HK: Surgical correction of the acromegalic face. In: Ezzat S, Knutzen R, editors. The Pituitary Patient Resource Guide. 3rd ed. pp. 97, 2001.

63. Jarrahy R, Eby J, Shahinian HK: Pituitary Surgery: The Evolution from Open Transcranial to Fully Endoscopic Transnasal Surgery of the Pituitary Gland. In: Ezzat S, Knutzen R, editors. The Pituitary Patient Resource Guide. 3rd ed. pp. 181–185, 2001.

64. Shahinian HK: “The Skull Base”. In: Current Therapy in Plastic Surgery. McCarthy J, Galiano R, Boutros S, eds. pp 176–183.

65. Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: “Pituitary Surgery: The Evolution from Open Transcranial to Fully Endoscopic Transnasal Surgery, and Beyond” In: Ezzat S, Knutzen R, editors. The Pituitary Patient Resource Guide. 4th ed. pp. 252 – 258, 2006.

66. Katzen JT, Kabil MS, Shahinian, HK: Surgical Correction of the Acromegalic Face. In: Ezzat S, Knutzen R, editors. The Pituitary Patient Resource Guide. 4th ed. pp. 129 – 132, 2006.

67. Shahinian HK: Skull Base Surgery. In: Thorne C, Beasley R, Aston S, et al. Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. 6th ed. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

68. Jarrahy R, Shahinian, HK: “The Evolution from the Open Craniotomy to Fully Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

69. Tanman R, Shahinian HK: “Anesthetic Considerations in Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

70. Friedman T, Shahinian HK: “Neuroendocrine Aspects of Skull Base Surgery” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

71. Chapot R, El-Serwi A, Shahinian HK: “Interventional Neuroradiology Aspects of Skull Base Surgery” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

72. Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: “Instrumentation in Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

73. Jarrahy R, Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: “The Fully Endoscopic Endonasal Approach” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

74. Jarrahy R, Kabil MS, Shahinian HK: “The Fully Endoscopic Transglabellar Approach” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

75. Kabil MS, Jarrahy R, Shahinian HK: “The Fully Endoscopic Supraorbital Approach” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

76. Kabil MS, Thill MP, Shahinian HK: “The Fully Endoscopic Retrosigmoid Approach” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008.

77. Kabil MS, Thill MP, Shahinian HK: The Fully Endoscopic Subtemporal Approach” In: Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, 2008. Published Textbooks

78. Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery; A Guide with Illustrative Cases, Author: Hrayr K. Shahinian, MD, FACS, Humana Press, Totowa, NJ., January, 2008.

References

  1. ↑ http://web15.facs.org/acsdir/public/DetailMember.cfm?CHKDGTS=30304382763. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ NYU Lagone Medical Center http://plastic-surgery.med.nyu.edu/about-us. Retrieved 1 August 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/11/991130232935.htm. Retrieved 1 August 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ http://www.skullbaseinstitute.com/papers.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ http://www.skullbaseinstitute.com/testimonials.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ Humana Press http://www.springer.com/medicine/surgery/book/978-1-58829-814-0. Retrieved 1 August 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ http://www.springer.com/medicine/surgery/book/978-1-58829-814-0?detailsPage=reviews. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/15/idUS16066+15-Mar-2011+MW20110315. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ http://www.skullbaseinstitute.com/nasa-and-skull-base-institute.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)