Duke's Allan Friedman Operates on Ted Kennedy

Senator Ted Kennedy is undergoing 6-hour neurosurgery this morning at Duke University in North Carolina, presumably to resect a recently diagnosed malignant glioma in the senator's left parietal lobe. The operation will be performed by Allan Friedman, MD, according to news reports, who is Duke's neurosurgeon-in-chief. In addition to presumed resection, polymer wafers impregnated with carmustine (Gliadel; MGI Pharma) may be implanted into Kennedy's tumor bed (pure, but educated, speculation at the Pathophilia blog).

While a med student at Duke, I knew Friedman—who was then chief resident—cursorily. He was a rarity: a nice, sane neurosurgeon.

Update: Surgery was completed in approximately 3-1/2 hours, according to the NYT. Dr. Friedman reported that the "surgery was successful and accomplished our goals." Further description of the procedure was not provided. After recuperation, Kennedy is scheduled to undergo radiation and chemotherapy at MGH.

Photo: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.