Ho-ho-ho! Gather around, my curious elves, for a tale not of the North Pole, but of the incredible journey through the snowy peaks and valleys of the human brain, especially when it’s under the shadow of those pesky intruders known as brain neoplasms. Now, even with our sleigh loaded with the most advanced medical and radiation therapy toys, the old-fashioned craft of surgical resection holds a special place in our sack, as indispensable as Rudolph on a foggy Christmas Eve.

Imagine, if you will, benign brain tumors as mischievous elves causing havoc. A maximal safe resection by our skilled surgeon Santas can send them packing, leaving the patient with a sleigh full of health and joy, possibly even a complete recovery! On the other hand, those naughty, malignant tumors, much like Grinches stealing Christmas cheer, can be managed by surgery too. It’s like lifting the heavy sack of presents off your back, easing the mass effect, and lighting up the neurological Christmas tree, all while paving the way for a magical oncotherapy sleigh ride based on the molecular level histopathology results.

Thanks to the workshop of technical and multidisciplinary elves, brain tumor surgery has seen advancements that allow for more radical and safer resections. It’s like crafting a more precise toy with better tools, resulting in happier outcomes and preserving the quality of life, even for those tumors once considered as tough to remove as a burnt cookie from a baking sheet.

In this festive review, we’ll unwrap the recent technical innovations used in brain tumor surgery, much like opening presents under the tree. We’ll delve into the surgical strategy for the most common tumor types – gliomas, meningiomas, cranial nerve tumors, and brain metastases, each a unique snowflake in the blizzard of brain conditions.

But wait, there’s more in our stocking! The surgical management of complex skull base tumors, pituitary tumors, as well as the magical world of neuro-endoscopic surgery and pediatric brain tumors, are tales for another night, discussed in other papers of this special issue. So, my dear elves, let’s raise our glasses of milk and cookies to the brave surgeons and their teams, working tirelessly to ensure that every patient finds health and happiness under their Christmas tree. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to brains everywhere!