Kevin Lillehei, MD

Professor, Neurosurgery


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of Minnesota Medical School (1979)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, Cornell University (NY) (1975)
Internship
  • University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers Program (1980)
Residency
  • University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers Program, Chief Resident, Neurological Surgery (1985)
Languages
English
Department
Neurosurgery

Professional Titles

  • Chair of Neurosurgery

Recognitions

  • 5280 Top Doc, 5280 Magazine (2000)
    11 years in a row
  • Peak Performer Award, Rocky Mountain Hospital Medicine Symposium (2010)
  • Guest Examiner, American Board of Neurological Surgery (2006)
    Oral Neurosurgical Board Examinations
  • Visiting Professor, Univ of Texas Southwestern (2006)
  • Top Surgeon - Neurosurgery, Consumer's Research Council of America (2007)
  • Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Marquis (2007)

Research Interests

Dr. Lillehei is Director of the Neurosurgery Neuro-Oncology laboratory with his research interests revolving around the treatment of malignant gliomas. In particular, he is interested in studying the role of the immune system in intracranial tumor recognition and eradication, and is exploring the use of various tumor vaccines as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Publications

  • Madsen H, Borges MT, Kerr JM, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. McCune-Albright syndrome: surgical and therapeutic challenges in GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. J Neuro-Oncol 2010, Nov 21 (epub ahead of print)
  • Lillehei KO,, Widdel L, Arias Astete CA, Wierman ME, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Kerr JM. Transsphenoidal Resection of 82 Rathke's Cleft Cysts: Limited Value of Alcohol Cauterization in Reducing Recurrence Rates J Neurosurgery 114:310-317, 2011
  • Mudd PA, Hohensee S, Lillehei KO, Kingdom TT, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters B: Ectopic pituitary adenoma of the clivus presenting with apoplexy: case report and review of the literature. Clin Neuropathology 2011(Dec); 31:24-30
  • Madsen H, Borges TM, Knox AJ, Michaelis KZ, Xu M, Lillehei KO, Wierman ME, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK. Giant Pituitary Adenomas: Pathologic-Radiographic Correlcations and Lack of Role for p53 and MIB-1 Labeling. Am J Surg Pathol 2011 Aug; 35(8):1204-13.
  • Michaelis KA, Knox AJ, Xu M, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Edwards MG, Geraci M, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Lillehei KO, Wierman ME. Identification of Growth Arrest and DNA-Damage-Inducible Gene {beta} (GADD45{beta}) as a Novel Tumor Suppressor in Pituitary Gonadotrope Tumors. Endocrinology. 2011 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Fields EC, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Liu AK, Kavanagh BD, Waziri A, Lillehei K, Chen C. Phase 1 dose escalation trial of vendetanib with fractionated radiosurgery in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. Int J Rad Onc Biol Phys. In press
  • Chen C, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Waziri A, Lillehei K, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Robischon M, Stuhr K, Rusthoven KE, Kavanagh BD. Phase I trial of hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy with Temozolomide chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. Int J Radiation Onc Biol Phys. In press
  • Knox AJ, Michaelis KA, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO, Wierman ME: Reprimo (RPRM) is downregulated in human gonadotrope pituitary tumors and stabilized during cellular stress. Molecular Endocrinology. In press
  • Knox AJ, Xu M, Michaelis KA, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO, Wierman ME. Reprimo (RPRM) is a Novel Tumor Suppressor in Pituitary Tumors and Regulates Survival, Proliferation and Tumorigenicity. Modern Endocrinology. In press.
  • Khalil A, Serracino H, Damek D, Ney D, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Gliomas arising in patients with multiple sclerosis have no distinctive genetic features. J Neuro-Oncology In press
  • Lillehei KO, Widdel L, Arias Astete CA, Wierman ME, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Kerr JM. Transsphenoidal Resection of 82 Rathke's Cleft Cysts: Limited Value of Alcohol Cauterization in Reducing Recurrence Rates J Neurosurgery 114:310-317, 2011
  • Borges MT, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Spindle cell oncocytoma with late recurrence and unique neuroimaging characteristics due to recurrent subclinical intratumoral bleeding. J Neuroonc (2011) 101:145-154.
  • Reddy K, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Ney D, Waziri A, Lillehei K, et al. Phase II trial of hypofractionated IMRT with temozolomide for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. Int J Radiation Oncol Biol Phys 2012: 1-6.
  • Reddy K, Gaspar LE, Kavanagh BD, Waziri A, Damek DM, Ney D, Lillehei KO, Chen C. Prospective evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated on a phase II trial of hypofractionated IMRT with temozolomide. J Neurooncol. 2013 Aug;114(1):111-6. PubMed PMID: 23729276
  • Dhaliwal JS, Seibold LK, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Lillehei KO, Hink EM, Prall JA, Durairaj VD. Orbital invasion by ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Mar-Apr;30(2):e28-30. PubMed PMID: 23645353
  • Bridenstine M, Kerr JM, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Cushing's disease due to mixed pituitary adenoma-gangliocytoma of the posterior pituitary gland presenting with Aspergillus sp. sinus infection. Clin Neuropathol. 2013 Sep-Oct;32(5):377-83. PubMed PMID: 23611590
  • Schmidt Y, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Aisner DL, Lillehei KO, Damek D. Anaplastic PXA in adults: case series with clinicopathologic and molecular features. J Neurooncol. 2013 Jan;111(1):59-69. PubMed PMID: 23096133
  • Epple LM, Bemis LT, Cavanaugh RP, Skope A, Mayer-Sonnenfeld T, Frank C, Olver CS, Lencioni AM, Dusto NL, Tal A, Har-Noy M, Lillehei KO, Katsanis E, Graner MW. Prolonged remission of advanced bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma in a dog treated with autologous, tumour-derived chaperone-rich cell lysate (CRCL) vaccine. Int J Hyperthermia. 2013 Aug;29(5):390-8. PubMed PMID: 23786302
  • Graner MW, Lillehei KO, Katsanis E. Endoplasmic reticulum chaperones and their roles in the immunogenicity of cancer vaccines. Front Oncol. 2014;4:379. PubMed PMID: 25610811
  • Rusthoven CG, Carlson JA, Waxweiler TV, Dally MJ, Barón AE, Yeh N, Gaspar LE, Liu AK, Ney DE, Damek DM, Lillehei KO, Kavanagh BD. The impact of adjuvant radiation therapy for high-grade gliomas by histology in the United States population. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014 Nov 15;90(4):894-902. PubMed PMID: 25585784
  • Mayer-Sonnenfeld T, Har-Noy M, Lillehei KO, Graner MW. Proteomic analyses of different human tumour-derived chaperone-rich cell lysate (CRCL) anti-cancer vaccines reveal antigen content and strong similarities amongst the vaccines along with a basis for CRCL's unique structure: CRCL vaccine proteome leads to unique structure. Int J Hyperthermia. 2013 Sep;29(6):520-7. PubMed PMID: 23734882
  • Ney DE, Carlson JA, Damek DM, Gaspar LE, Kavanagh BD, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Waziri AE, Lillehei KO, Reddy K, Chen C. Phase II trial of hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy combined with temozolomide and bevacizumab for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Neurooncol. 2014 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25524817
  • Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Carlson NE, Borges MT, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO, Kerr JM, Wierman ME. Growth hormone tumor histological subtypes predict response to surgical and medical therapy. Endocrine. 2014 Aug 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25129651
  • Lummus SC, Aisner DL, Sams SB, Foreman NK, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Massive dissemination from spinal cord gangliogliomas negative for BRAF V600E: report of two rare adult cases. Am J Clin Pathol. 2014 Aug;142(2):254-60. PubMed PMID: 25015869
  • Dhaliwal JS, Seibold LK, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Lillehei KO, Hink EM, Prall JA, Durairaj VD. Orbital invasion by ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Mar-Apr;30(2):e28-30. PubMed PMID: 23645353
  • Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Xu M, Mills TS, Smith EE, Silveira LJ, Lillehei KO, Kerr JM, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Wierman ME. Differential somatostatin receptor (SSTR) 1-5 expression and downstream effectors in histologic subtypes of growth hormone pituitary tumors. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2015 Dec 5;417:73-83. PubMed PMID: 26391562
  • Downes AE, Freeman JL, Ormond DR, Lillehei KO, Youssef AS. Unilateral Tailored Fronto-Orbital Approach for Giant Olfactory Groove Meningiomas: Technical Nuances. World Neurosurg. 2015 Oct;84(4):1166-73. PubMed PMID: 25986205
  • Carlson JA, Reddy K, Gaspar LE, Ney D, Kavanagh BD, Damek D, Lillehei K, Chen C. Hypofractionated-intensity modulated radiotherapy (hypo-IMRT) and temozolomide (TMZ) with or without bevacizumab (BEV) for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): a comparison of two prospective phase II trials. J Neurooncol. 2015 Jun;123(2):251-7. PubMed PMID: 25920710
  • Freeman JL, Davern MS, Oushy S, Sillau S, Ormond DR, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO. Spheno-Orbital Meningiomas: A 16-Year Surgical Experience. World Neurosurg. 2016 Dec 22. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28017748
  • Xiong W, Knox AJ, Xu M, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Colgan SP, Brodsky KS, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Lillehei KO, Wierman ME. Mammalian Ste20-like kinase 4 promotes pituitary cell proliferation and survival under hypoxia. Mol Endocrinol. 2015 Mar;29(3):460-72. PubMed PMID: 25650755
  • Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO. Radiation-Induced Cerebral Vascular "Malformations" at Biopsy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2016 Sep 30. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27694117
  • Roberts S, Borges MT, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Double separate versus contiguous pituitary adenomas: MRI features and endocrinological follow up. Pituitary. 2016 Oct;19(5):472-81. PubMed PMID: 27209585
  • Graner MW, Lillehei KO, Katsanis E. Endoplasmic reticulum chaperones and their roles in the immunogenicity of cancer vaccines. Front Oncol. 2014;4:379. PubMed PMID: 25610811
  • Ney DE, Carlson JA, Damek DM, Gaspar LE, Kavanagh BD, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Waziri AE, Lillehei KO, Reddy K, Chen C. Phase II trial of hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy combined with temozolomide and bevacizumab for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Neurooncol. 2015 Mar;122(1):135-43. PubMed PMID: 25524817
  • Koga K, Yoshinaga M, Uematsu Y, Nagai Y, Miyakoshi N, Shimoda Y, Fujinaga M, Minamimoto T, Zhang MR, Higuchi M, Ohtake N, Suhara T, Chaki S. TASP0434299: A Novel Pyridopyrimidin-4-One Derivative as a Radioligand for Vasopressin V1B Receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2016 Jun;357(3):495-508. PubMed PMID: 27029585
  • Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Carlson NE, Borges MT, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO, Kerr JM, Wierman ME. Growth hormone tumor histological subtypes predict response to surgical and medical therapy. Endocrine. 2015 May;49(1):231-41. PubMed PMID: 25129651
  • Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Carlson NE, Borges MT, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO, Kerr JM, Wierman ME. Growth hormone tumor histological subtypes predict response to surgical and medical therapy. Endocrine. 2015 May;49(1):231-41. PubMed PMID: 25129651
  • DeMasteres BK, Lillehei KO, Hankinson TC. Review of xanthomatous lesions of the sella. Brain Pathology. Accepted and in Press, May issue.
  • Carr SB, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, . Kerr JM, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Wierman ME, Lillehei KO. Negative surgical exploration in Cushing’s disease patients: benefit of two-thirds gland resection on remission rate and a review of the literature. Journal of Neurosurgery - 2017 (Under final review)
  • Ung TH, Yang M, Wang M, Harland T, Lillehei KO. Benefit of Intracystic Bleomycin for Symptomatic Recurrent Rathke Cleft Cyst. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2018 Nov 16. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30445570
  • Ormond DR, Kahamba J, Lillehei KO, Rutabasibwa N. Overcoming barriers to neurosurgical training in Tanzania: international exchange, curriculum development, and novel methods of resource utilization and subspecialty development. Neurosurg Focus. 2018 Oct;45(4):E6. PubMed PMID: 30269594
  • Deaver KE, Catel CP, Lillehei KO, Wierman ME, Kerr JM. Strategies to reduce readmissions for hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. Endocrine. 2018 Nov;62(2):333-339. PubMed PMID: 29961198
  • Liau LM, Ashkan K, Tran DD, Campian JL, Trusheim JE, Cobbs CS, Heth JA, Salacz M, Taylor S, D'Andre SD, Iwamoto FM, Dropcho EJ, Moshel YA, Walter KA, Pillainayagam CP, Aiken R, Chaudhary R, Goldlust SA, Bota DA, Duic P, Grewal J, Elinzano H, Toms SA, Lillehei KO, Mikkelsen T, Walbert T, Abram SR, Brenner AJ, Brem S, Ewend MG, Khagi S, Portnow J, Kim LJ, Loudon WG, Thompson RC, Avigan DE, Fink KL, Geoffroy FJ, Lindhorst S, Lutzky J, Sloan AE, Schackert G, Krex D, Meisel HJ, Wu J, Davis RP, Duma C, Etame AB, Mathieu D, Kesari S, Piccioni D, Westphal M, Baskin DS, New PZ, Lacroix M, May SA, Pluard TJ, Tse V, Green RM, Villano JL, Pearlman M, Petrecca K, Schulder M, Taylor LP, Maida AE, Prins RM, Cloughesy TF, Mulholland P, Bosch ML. Correction to: First results on survival from a large Phase 3 clinical trial of an autologous dendritic cell vaccine in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Transl Med. 2018 Jun 29;16(1):179. PubMed PMID: 29958537
  • Liau LM, Ashkan K, Tran DD, Campian JL, Trusheim JE, Cobbs CS, Heth JA, Salacz M, Taylor S, D'Andre SD, Iwamoto FM, Dropcho EJ, Moshel YA, Walter KA, Pillainayagam CP, Aiken R, Chaudhary R, Goldlust SA, Bota DA, Duic P, Grewal J, Elinzano H, Toms SA, Lillehei KO, Mikkelsen T, Walbert T, Abram SR, Brenner AJ, Brem S, Ewend MG, Khagi S, Portnow J, Kim LJ, Loudon WG, Thompson RC, Avigan DE, Fink KL, Geoffroy FJ, Lindhorst S, Lutzky J, Sloan AE, Schackert G, Krex D, Meisel HJ, Wu J, Davis RP, Duma C, Etame AB, Mathieu D, Kesari S, Piccioni D, Westphal M, Baskin DS, New PZ, Lacroix M, May SA, Pluard TJ, Tse V, Green RM, Villano JL, Pearlman M, Petrecca K, Schulder M, Taylor LP, Maida AE, Prins RM, Cloughesy TF, Mulholland P, Bosch ML. First results on survival from a large Phase 3 clinical trial of an autologous dendritic cell vaccine in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Transl Med. 2018 May 29;16(1):142. PubMed PMID: 29843811
  • Ung TH, Ney DE, Damek D, Rusthoven CG, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. The Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) Scale as an Assessment Tool for Survival in Patients With Primary Glioblastoma. Neurosurgery. 2018 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29618103
  • Carr SB, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Kerr JM, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Wierman ME, Lillehei KO. Negative surgical exploration in patients with Cushing's disease: benefit of two-thirds gland resection on remission rate and a review of the literature. J Neurosurg. 2017 Dec 8;:1-8. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29219752
  • Lillehei KO, Kalkanis SN, Liau LM, Mydland DE, Olson J, Paleologos NA, Ryken T, Johnson T, Scullin E. Rationale and design of the 500-patient, 3-year, and prospective Vigilant ObservatIon of GlIadeL WAfer ImplaNT registry. CNS Oncol. 2018 Apr;7(2):CNS08. PubMed PMID: 29206049
  • Contreras-Zárate MJ, Ormond DR, Gillen AE, Hanna C, Day NL, Serkova NJ, Jacobsen BM, Edgerton SM, Thor AD, Borges VF, Lillehei KO, Graner MW, Kabos P, Cittelly DM. Development of Novel Patient-Derived Xenografts from Breast Cancer Brain Metastases. Front Oncol. 2017;7:252. PubMed PMID: 29164052
  • Harland TA, Freeman JL, Davern M, McCracken DJ, Celano EC, Lillehei K, Olson JJ, Ormond DR. Progesterone-only contraception is associated with a shorter progression-free survival in premenopausal women with WHO Grade I meningioma. J Neurooncol. 2018 Jan;136(2):327-333. PubMed PMID: 29081037
  • Oushy S, Sillau SH, Ney DE, Damek DM, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. New-onset seizure during and after brain tumor excision: a risk assessment analysis. J Neurosurg. 2018 Jun;128(6):1713-1718. PubMed PMID: 28753117
  • Vasquez CA, Casey M, Folzenlogen Z, Ormond DR, Lillehei K, Youssef AS. Third Ventricular Cerebrospinal Fluid Cysts of Thalamic Origin: Review of Embryologic Origin, Presentation, and Management Strategies with a Case Series. World Neurosurg. 2017 Jul;103:210-219. PubMed PMID: 28391023
  • Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Mills TS, Zhang Y, Xu M, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Wierman ME. Elucidating the Role of the Desmosome Protein p53 Apoptosis Effector Related to PMP-22 in Growth Hormone Tumors. Endocrinology. 2017 May 1;158(5):1450-1460. PubMed PMID: 28323918
  • Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO, Hankinson TC. Review of xanthomatous lesions of the sella. Brain Pathol. 2017 May;27(3):377-395. PubMed PMID: 28236350
  • Freeman JL, Davern MS, Oushy S, Sillau S, Ormond DR, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO. Spheno-Orbital Meningiomas: A 16-Year Surgical Experience. World Neurosurg. 2017 Mar;99:369-380. PubMed PMID: 28017748
  • Farrell NF, Kingdom T, Getz A, Lillehei KO, Youssef AS, Ramakrishnan V. Development of chronic sphenoid sinusitis after sellar reconstruction with Medpor® porous polyethylene implant. World Neurosurg. 2018 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30579017
  • Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Rosenblum MK, Kerr JM, Lillehei KO. Cystic sellar salivary gland-like lesions. Clin Neuropathol. 2019 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31845864
  • Nevzati E, Chatain GP, Carr SB, Lillehei KO, Kerr JM. Surgical management considerations in cystic prolactinomas-a single center case series. Endocrine. 2019 Nov 26. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31773633
  • Farrell NF, Kingdom TT, Getz AE, Lillehei KO, Youssef AS, Ramakrishnan VR. Development of Chronic Sphenoid Sinusitis After Sellar Reconstruction with Medpor Porous Polyethylene Implant. World Neurosurg. 2019 Mar;123:e781-e786. PubMed PMID: 30579017
  • Ung TH, Yang M, Wang M, Harland T, Lillehei KO. Benefit of Intracystic Bleomycin for Symptomatic Recurrent Rathke Cleft Cyst. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2019 Sep 1;17(3):268-272. PubMed PMID: 30445570
  • Ormond DR, Kahamba J, Lillehei KO, Rutabasibwa N. Overcoming barriers to neurosurgical training in Tanzania: international exchange, curriculum development, and novel methods of resource utilization and subspecialty development. Neurosurg Focus. 2018 Oct;45(4):E6. PubMed PMID: 30269594
  • Deaver KE, Catel CP, Lillehei KO, Wierman ME, Kerr JM. Strategies to reduce readmissions for hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. Endocrine. 2018 Nov;62(2):333-339. PubMed PMID: 29961198
  • Liau LM, Ashkan K, Tran DD, Campian JL, Trusheim JE, Cobbs CS, Heth JA, Salacz M, Taylor S, D'Andre SD, Iwamoto FM, Dropcho EJ, Moshel YA, Walter KA, Pillainayagam CP, Aiken R, Chaudhary R, Goldlust SA, Bota DA, Duic P, Grewal J, Elinzano H, Toms SA, Lillehei KO, Mikkelsen T, Walbert T, Abram SR, Brenner AJ, Brem S, Ewend MG, Khagi S, Portnow J, Kim LJ, Loudon WG, Thompson RC, Avigan DE, Fink KL, Geoffroy FJ, Lindhorst S, Lutzky J, Sloan AE, Schackert G, Krex D, Meisel HJ, Wu J, Davis RP, Duma C, Etame AB, Mathieu D, Kesari S, Piccioni D, Westphal M, Baskin DS, New PZ, Lacroix M, May SA, Pluard TJ, Tse V, Green RM, Villano JL, Pearlman M, Petrecca K, Schulder M, Taylor LP, Maida AE, Prins RM, Cloughesy TF, Mulholland P, Bosch ML. Correction to: First results on survival from a large Phase 3 clinical trial of an autologous dendritic cell vaccine in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Transl Med. 2018 Jun 29;16(1):179. PubMed PMID: 29958537
  • Liau LM, Ashkan K, Tran DD, Campian JL, Trusheim JE, Cobbs CS, Heth JA, Salacz M, Taylor S, D'Andre SD, Iwamoto FM, Dropcho EJ, Moshel YA, Walter KA, Pillainayagam CP, Aiken R, Chaudhary R, Goldlust SA, Bota DA, Duic P, Grewal J, Elinzano H, Toms SA, Lillehei KO, Mikkelsen T, Walbert T, Abram SR, Brenner AJ, Brem S, Ewend MG, Khagi S, Portnow J, Kim LJ, Loudon WG, Thompson RC, Avigan DE, Fink KL, Geoffroy FJ, Lindhorst S, Lutzky J, Sloan AE, Schackert G, Krex D, Meisel HJ, Wu J, Davis RP, Duma C, Etame AB, Mathieu D, Kesari S, Piccioni D, Westphal M, Baskin DS, New PZ, Lacroix M, May SA, Pluard TJ, Tse V, Green RM, Villano JL, Pearlman M, Petrecca K, Schulder M, Taylor LP, Maida AE, Prins RM, Cloughesy TF, Mulholland P, Bosch ML. First results on survival from a large Phase 3 clinical trial of an autologous dendritic cell vaccine in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Transl Med. 2018 May 29;16(1):142. PubMed PMID: 29843811
  • Ung TH, Ney DE, Damek D, Rusthoven CG, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. The Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) Scale as an Assessment Tool for Survival in Patients With Primary Glioblastoma. Neurosurgery. 2019 Mar 1;84(3):687-695. PubMed PMID: 29618103
  • Carr SB, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Kerr JM, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Wierman ME, Lillehei KO. Negative surgical exploration in patients with Cushing's disease: benefit of two-thirds gland resection on remission rate and a review of the literature. J Neurosurg. 2018 Nov 1;129(5):1260-1267. PubMed PMID: 29219752
  • Lillehei KO, Kalkanis SN, Liau LM, Mydland DE, Olson J, Paleologos NA, Ryken T, Johnson T, Scullin E. Rationale and design of the 500-patient, 3-year, and prospective Vigilant ObservatIon of GlIadeL WAfer ImplaNT registry. CNS Oncol. 2018 Apr;7(2):CNS08. PubMed PMID: 29206049
  • Harland TA, Freeman JL, Davern M, McCracken DJ, Celano EC, Lillehei K, Olson JJ, Ormond DR. Progesterone-only contraception is associated with a shorter progression-free survival in premenopausal women with WHO Grade I meningioma. J Neurooncol. 2018 Jan;136(2):327-333. PubMed PMID: 29081037
  • Oushy S, Sillau SH, Ney DE, Damek DM, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. New-onset seizure during and after brain tumor excision: a risk assessment analysis. J Neurosurg. 2018 Jun;128(6):1713-1718. PubMed PMID: 28753117
  • Kunigelis KE, Arnone G, Chatain G, Hoffman J, Chatain O, Coulter I, Sunshine A, Lillehei KO, Youssef AS. Defining the timing and role of acute postoperative imaging in pituitary adenoma surgery: clinical study. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2020 Oct;162(10):2353-2360. PubMed PMID: 32779027
  • Zerd F, Moore BE, Malango AE, Hosokawa PW, Lillehei KO, Mchome LL, Ormond DR. Photomicrograph-Based Neuropathology Consultation in Tanzania. Am J Clin Pathol. 2020 Oct 13;154(5):656-670. PubMed PMID: 32715312
  • Prince E, Whelan R, Donson A, Staulcup S, Hengartner A, Vijmasi T, Agwu C, Lillehei KO, Foreman NK, Johnston JM, Massimi L, Anderson RCE, Souweidane MM, Naftel RP, Limbrick DD, Grant G, Niazi TN, Dudley R, Kilburn L, Jackson EM, Jallo GI, Ginn K, Smith A, Chern JJ, Lee A, Drapeau A, Krieger MD, Handler MH, Hankinson TC. Transcriptional analyses of adult and pediatric adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma reveals similar expression signatures regarding potential therapeutic targets. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2020 May 13;8(1):68. PubMed PMID: 32404202
  • Nevzati E, Chatain GP, Hoffman J, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. Reliability of fluorescein-assisted stereotactic brain biopsies in predicting conclusive tissue diagnosis. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2020 Aug;162(8):1941-1947. PubMed PMID: 32291590
  • Kaale AJ, Rutabasibwa N, Mchome LL, Lillehei KO, Honce JM, Kahamba J, Ormond DR. The use of intraoperative neurosurgical ultrasound for surgical navigation in low- and middle-income countries: the initial experience in Tanzania. J Neurosurg. 2020 Feb 28;:1-8. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32109864
  • Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Rosenblum MK, Kerr JM, Lillehei KO. Cystic sellar salivary gland-like lesions. Clin Neuropathol. 2020 May Jun;39(3):115-125. PubMed PMID: 31845864
  • Nevzati E, Chatain GP, Carr SB, Lillehei KO, Kerr JM. Surgical management considerations in cystic prolactinomas-a single center case series. Endocrine. 2020 Jan;67(1):58-66. PubMed PMID: 31773633
  • Liau LM, Ashkan K, Brem S, Campian JL, Trusheim JE, Iwamoto FM, Tran DD, Ansstas G, Cobbs CS, Heth JA, Salacz ME, D'Andre S, Aiken RD, Moshel YA, Nam JY, Pillainayagam CP, Wagner SA, Walter KA, Chaudary R, Goldlust SA, Lee IY, Bota DA, Elinzano H, Grewal J, Lillehei K, Mikkelsen T, Walbert T, Abram S, Brenner AJ, Ewend MG, Khagi S, Lovick DS, Portnow J, Kim L, Loudon WG, Martinez NL, Thompson RC, Avigan DE, Fink KL, Geoffroy FJ, Giglio P, Gligich O, Krex D, Lindhorst SM, Lutzky J, Meisel HJ, Nadji-Ohl M, Sanchin L, Sloan A, Taylor LP, Wu JK, Dunbar EM, Etame AB, Kesari S, Mathieu D, Piccioni DE, Baskin DS, Lacroix M, May SA, New PZ, Pluard TJ, Toms SA, Tse V, Peak S, Villano JL, Battiste JD, Mulholland PJ, Pearlman ML, Petrecca K, Schulder M, Prins RM, Boynton AL, Bosch ML. Association of Autologous Tumor Lysate-Loaded Dendritic Cell Vaccination With Extension of Survival Among Patients With Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Phase 3 Prospective Externally Controlled Cohort Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2022 Nov 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36394838
  • Zhou W, Lovasz D, Zizzo Z, He Q, Coughlan C, Kowalski RG, Kennedy PGE, Graner AN, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR, Youssef AS, Graner MW, Yu X. Phenotype and Neuronal Cytotoxic Function of Glioblastoma Extracellular Vesicles. Biomedicines. 2022 Oct 27;10(11). PubMed PMID: 36359238
  • Kortz MW, Lillehei KO. Insular Cortex. . 2022 Jan. PubMed PMID: 34033368
  • Belanger K, Ung TH, Damek D, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. Concomitant Temozolomide plus radiotherapy for high-grade and recurrent meningioma: a retrospective chart review. BMC Cancer. 2022 Apr 7;22(1):367. PubMed PMID: 35392834
  • Winograd E, Kortz MW, Lillehei KO. Radiographic pituitary stalk disruption: A rare sequela of secondary empty sella syndrome. Surg Neurol Int. 2021;12:385. PubMed PMID: 34513152
  • Callen AL, Timpone VM, Schwertner A, Zander D, Grassia F, Lennarson P, Seinfeld J, Lillehei KO, Birlea M, Thaker AA. Algorithmic Multimodality Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal CSF Leak and Venous Fistula in Patients With Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2022 Aug;219(2):292-301. PubMed PMID: 35261281
  • Kunigelis KE, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. Clinical Features of Pineal Parenchymal Tumors of Intermediate Differentiation (PPTID): A Single-Institution Series. World Neurosurg. 2021 Nov;155:e229-e235. PubMed PMID: 34418607
  • Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Lillehei KO, Jensen RL, Youssef AS, Ormond DR, Graner MW. Targeting DNA Methyl Transferases with Decitabine in Cultured Meningiomas. World Neurosurg. 2022 Jun;162:e99-e119. PubMed PMID: 35248772
  • Fringuello A, Tatman PD, Wroblewski T, Thompson JA, Yu X, Lillehei KO, Kowalski RG, Graner MW. Cytokine-Laden Extracellular Vesicles Predict Patient Prognosis after Cerebrovascular Accident. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jul 22;22(15). PubMed PMID: 34360613
  • Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Lillehei K, Youssef AS, Jensen RL, Graner MW, Ormond DR. High-Throughput Mechanistic Screening of Epigenetic Compounds for the Potential Treatment of Meningiomas. J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 16;10(14). PubMed PMID: 34300316
  • Kortz MW, Lillehei KO. Insular Cortex. . 2022 Jan. PubMed PMID: 34033368
  • Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Jensen RL, Graner MW, Ormond DR. High-Throughput Screening of Epigenetic Inhibitors in Meningiomas Identifies HDAC, G9a, and Jumonji-Domain Inhibition as Potential Therapies. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2023 Oct;84(5):452-462. PubMed PMID: 37671294
  • Kortz MW, Lillehei KO. Insular Cortex. . 2023 Jan. PubMed PMID: 34033368
  • Liau LM, Ashkan K, Brem S, Campian JL, Trusheim JE, Iwamoto FM, Tran DD, Ansstas G, Cobbs CS, Heth JA, Salacz ME, D'Andre S, Aiken RD, Moshel YA, Nam JY, Pillainayagam CP, Wagner SA, Walter KA, Chaudhary R, Goldlust SA, Lee IY, Bota DA, Elinzano H, Grewal J, Lillehei K, Mikkelsen T, Walbert T, Abram S, Brenner AJ, Ewend MG, Khagi S, Lovick DS, Portnow J, Kim L, Loudon WG, Martinez NL, Thompson RC, Avigan DE, Fink KL, Geoffroy FJ, Giglio P, Gligich O, Krex D, Lindhorst SM, Lutzky J, Meisel HJ, Nadji-Ohl M, Sanchin L, Sloan A, Taylor LP, Wu JK, Dunbar EM, Etame AB, Kesari S, Mathieu D, Piccioni DE, Baskin DS, Lacroix M, May SA, New PZ, Pluard TJ, Toms SA, Tse V, Peak S, Villano JL, Battiste JD, Mulholland PJ, Pearlman ML, Petrecca K, Schulder M, Prins RM, Boynton AL, Bosch ML. Association of Autologous Tumor Lysate-Loaded Dendritic Cell Vaccination With Extension of Survival Among Patients With Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Phase 3 Prospective Externally Controlled Cohort Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2023 Jan 1;9(1):112-121. PubMed PMID: 36394838
  • Zhou W, Lovasz D, Zizzo Z, He Q, Coughlan C, Kowalski RG, Kennedy PGE, Graner AN, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR, Youssef AS, Graner MW, Yu X. Phenotype and Neuronal Cytotoxic Function of Glioblastoma Extracellular Vesicles. Biomedicines. 2022 Oct 27;10(11). PubMed PMID: 36359238
  • Belanger K, Ung TH, Damek D, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. Concomitant Temozolomide plus radiotherapy for high-grade and recurrent meningioma: a retrospective chart review. BMC Cancer. 2022 Apr 7;22(1):367. PubMed PMID: 35392834
  • Callen AL, Timpone VM, Schwertner A, Zander D, Grassia F, Lennarson P, Seinfeld J, Lillehei KO, Birlea M, Thaker AA. Algorithmic Multimodality Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal CSF Leak and Venous Fistula in Patients With Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2022 Aug;219(2):292-301. PubMed PMID: 35261281
  • Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Lillehei KO, Jensen RL, Youssef AS, Ormond DR, Graner MW. Targeting DNA Methyl Transferases with Decitabine in Cultured Meningiomas. World Neurosurg. 2022 Jun;162:e99-e119. PubMed PMID: 35248772

Professional Memberships

  • American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Member
  • Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Member
  • Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society, Past President, Past Secretary
  • Colorado Neurosurgical Society, Past President, Past Secretary/Treasurer
  • The Pituitary Society, Member
  • American Association for Cancer Research, Member
  • Society for Neuro-Oncology, Member
  • Cancer League of Colorado, Member
  • Society of Neurological Surgeons, elected lifetime position
  • American Society of Peripheral Nerve, elected lifetime position
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member
  • American Medical Association, Member
  • Denver Medical Society, Member
  • Colorado Medical Society (CMS), Member
  • The Denver Academy of Surgery, Member
  • American College of Surgeons (ACS), Fellow

Practice Locations

UCHealth Neurosciences Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
4th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

UCHealth Concussion Multidisciplinary Clinic - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion, 5th Fl
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

UCHealth Brain and Spine Tumor Multidisciplinary Clinic - Anschutz Medical Campus
1665 Aurora Court, Anschutz Cancer Pavilion, 2nd Floor, Suite 2004
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0300

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital

Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Neurological Surgery, Board Certification (1985)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Brain and Nervous System - Brain Tumors
  • Brain and Nervous System - Pituitary Disorders
  • Cancers - Brain Cancer
  • Brain and Nervous System
  • Cancers
Clinical Interests
I focus on Neuro-oncology and treating tumors including pituitary tumors, benign and malignant gliomas, spinal cord tumors, acoustic neuromas, complex skull base lesions and peripheral nerve injuries.