Board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon
Gunjan Goel, MD
FAANS, FCNS
Complex brain and comprehensive spine surgery
Dr. Goel cares for patients with brain and spine tumors, skull base conditions, degenerative spine disease, and trigeminal neuralgia. She sees patients at UPMC offices in Pittsburgh, Monroeville, and North Huntingdon.
Pittsburgh, Monroeville and North Huntingdon: 724-382-3600
Board Certified
American Board of Neurological Surgery
Residency
UC San Diego Neurological Surgery
Fellowship Training
Weill Cornell Skull Base and Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery
Recognition
San Diego Top Doctor and two-time Sharp Guardian Angel Honoree
Clinical Focus
Care for complex brain and spine conditions
Dr. Goel provides tailored surgical care for brain and spine tumors and degenerative spine conditions, drawing on fellowship training in the microsurgical and endoscopic treatment of complex cranial disease.
Brain and spine tumors
Surgical management of meningiomas, gliomas, intraventricular and pineal-region tumors, colloid cysts, metastatic disease, and spinal tumors, using microsurgical and neuroendoscopic techniques matched to each tumor and patient, including awake brain mapping when a tumor is near speech or movement areas. She treats both benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors.
Spine surgery
Comprehensive evaluation and surgical management for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar conditions, including degenerative disease, nerve compression, stenosis, myelopathy, and spondylolisthesis, using minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques whenever appropriate, including lateral lumbar interbody fusion (XLIF). Many of these conditions cause neck or back pain, numbness, or weakness.
Trigeminal neuralgia and cranial care
Trigeminal neuralgia causes sudden, severe, shock-like pain in the face. Dr. Goel evaluates and treats it and other facial pain, including medical, surgical, and radiosurgical options, and offers microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. Her fellowship training in skull base surgery also supports care for other complex conditions at the base of the skull.
Careful counseling is part of the care
Neurosurgical decisions are rarely simple. Dr. Goel's approach begins with a careful review of symptoms, imaging, prior treatment, overall health, and patient goals. When surgery is appropriate, the plan should be understandable, technically sound, and matched to the problem being treated.
Patient Education
Guides for each step of care
Plain-language guides to conditions, procedures, and recovery, with questions to bring to your care team.
Meningioma
When to watch with MRI, when surgery or radiation helps, and long-term follow-up.
Read the guide SpineLateral lumbar fusion (XLIF)
Fusion through a small incision on the side, who may benefit, and recovery.
Read the guide Facial painTrigeminal neuralgia
Microvascular decompression and balloon compression compared.
Read the guide BrainColloid cysts and ventricular tumors
Endoscopic surgery inside the brain's fluid spaces, explained step by step.
Read the guideStart Here
Simple paths for patients and clinicians
Find appointment details, prepare for your consultation, or arrange a patient referral.
For patients
To request an appointment, call 724-382-3600. See which records and imaging to bring to your first visit.
For referring providers
To refer a patient, call 724-382-3600. The office will explain how to send records and imaging.
Please note: Appointments and referrals are scheduled by phone through UPMC. The Pittsburgh office is the UPMC Spine Office at UPMC Shadyside, 5200 Centre Ave., Suite 617, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Picture books
The Sandalwood Horse Stories
Dr. Goel writes picture books for children with her mother, Latesh Goel, illustrated by her daughter, Sofie: The Sandalwood Horse and Kian and the Sandalwood Horse.