Patient Library
Mark McLaughlin, MD, FACS, FAANS is a practicing board-certified neurosurgeon, a national media commentator, author of the book Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon’s Quest to Out-Think Fear, and acclaimed keynote speaker.
He is committed to education, whether it be encouraging the public to read articles and books of interest, or demonstrating his belief that an educated patient is most likely to have a positive experience and result from medical care.
The patient focused articles found in this area of the website are intended to help you understand your condition, the possible treatments, and likely outcomes.
An aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel. Like many medical terms it originates as a Greek word "aneurusma" (to dilate).
Brain Tumors. What we know... how we treat... what patients need to know. Top New Jersey Neurosurgeon Mark R. McLaughlin, MD is your guide.
Princeton, New Jersey neurosurgeon Dr. Mark McLaughlin discusses spinal radiculopathy. What is it? What are the symptoms? What caused it? What treatments are available to me?
Cervical Herniated Discs in 2024: An updated perspective on state of art surgical and non-surgical treatment. Anterior Fusion? Posterier? Minimally Invasive? Arthroplasty? What you need to know.
Chiari Malformation is a disorder in which certain structures in the brain fail to develop normally. SM is a disorder that develops when CSF enters the spinal cord and forms a cavity called a syrinx
Chiari malformation is a condition in which brain tissue protrudes into the spinal canal. Chiari Malformation Type 1 is one of the four most common types of the condition.
Chiari Malformation is a complex and serious neurological disorder. Most patients exhibit multiple symptoms, however some with Chiari Malformation will have no symptoms at all.
A video series from leading Trigeminal Neuralgia expert Mark McLaughlin designed to guide TN patients through this difficult time.
Act One- Fighting a Brain Tumor... Informing the patient. The patient usually knows the words to come long before I sound the first syllable. Almost always, people with cancer in their lives more than look me in the eyes.
Fighting a Brain Tumor.... Act Two- the fight for life. This is the toughest battle a patient will likely ever encounter in their lives. At this point in the script, patients have had their surgery and we’re discussing the results. The
Fighting a Brain Tumor Act 3... when the end comes. When the fight has been fought and the enemy reigns superior, the team yields and the toughest question of all must be faced.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a condition characterized by recurring episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and area near the tonsils. An overview from Dr. McLaughlin.
How do you tell someone they have a brain tumor? Ned, my high school buddy asked me recently at our reunion luncheon, trying to get an insider’s view of a neurosurgeon’s life. It’s actually a very common question that I am asked.
For patients and families navigating its challenges, NPH is a life-altering diagnosis—one that is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and, importantly, sometimes treatable.
Occipital Neuralgia (ON) is a common disease that is often often misunderstood or not diagnosed by many physicians. Princeton New Jersey neurosurgeon Mark R. McLaughlin, MD explains.
Surgical treatment for occipital neuralgia is sometimes required. In this video, Dr. McLaughlin explains the key points that will be considered before surgery is recommended.
Traumatic brain injuries like the one that resulted in the death of actress Natasha Richardson after a skiing accident in 2009 often go undiagnosed and are more common than you might expect.
Dr. Mark McLaughlin discusses synovial cysts. What are they? Why do you have a synovial cyst? What can be done?
A January 2022 review of medical literature related to COVID-19 vaccination, Trigeminal Neuralgia, and Neurological Complications. What does the medical literature tell us?
Dr. McLaughlin was interviewed about Trigeminal Neuralgia and his experience as a top Neuralgia specialist in New Jersey.
Trigeminal neuralgia (also called Tic Douloureux) is a chronic pain condition characterized by recurring episodes of extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or electric shock-like face pain.
Video: Stress may result in increased perception of facial pain from Trigeminal Neuralgia. Dr. McLaughlin offers some thoughts on dealing with TN during the coronavirus crisis. April 2020
Video January 2022 : Dr. McLaughlin highlights the current literature as it relates to Trigeminal Neuralgia and the Covid Virus. What have we learned?
September 2021: Video update with Mark R. McLaughlin, MD. What you need to know about COVID19 and Trigeminal Neuralgia.
On April 30, 2025, acclaimed singer Michael Bolton was interviewed in People Magazine about his December 2023 diagnosis of glioblastoma, his surgery, and his current condition.
Occipital neuralgia is a distinct type of headache characterized by piercing, throbbing, or electric-shock-like chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the ears, usually on one side of the head.