Doctors
Dr. Felix Bokstein — leading specialist of the oncological department, head of the neuro-oncological service. Clinical Doctor of the Faculty of Medicine.
Clinical Focus
Dr. Felix Bukshtein is a senior neurologist and one of the early leaders of neuro-oncology in Israel. His clinical work focuses on the evaluation and treatment planning of complex brain tumors, both primary and metastatic.
His areas of expertise include:
- Primary brain tumors
- Secondary (metastatic) brain tumors
- Glioma
- Glioblastoma
- Astrocytoma
- Meningioma
- Medulloblastoma
- Pituitary adenomas
- Brain metastases from systemic cancers
- Acoustic neuroma and other cranial nerve tumors
In clinical practice, neuro-oncology is rarely straightforward. Tumors differ not only in pathology, but in pace, molecular profile, location, and neurological impact. Treatment decisions are rarely based on imaging alone. They require context.
This is where experience matters.
Clinical Experience
- Since 2002 – Head of the Neuro-Oncology Service, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
- Since 2000 – Director of a Neurology Clinic, Maccabi Healthcare Services
- 1995 – Fellowship in Neuro-Oncology, Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center
- 1991 – Neurology Residency, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
- 1982 – Neurology Training, Moscow
- 1980 – Graduated with honors from the First Moscow State Medical Institute
- In 2021, Dr. Bukshtein was included in the Forbes list of leading physicians in Israel.
Over more than three decades in neurology, he has been involved in thousands of cases involving high-grade gliomas, low-grade tumors under surveillance, pituitary lesions requiring multidisciplinary input, and metastatic brain disease requiring coordinated oncologic strategy.
Neuro-oncology has changed significantly in the past decade. Molecular diagnostics now guide decisions that once relied only on histology. Survival curves look different today.
But complexity has also increased.
Clinical Approach
Brain tumors are not managed in isolation. They affect cognition, speech, mobility, personality. And families often arrive overwhelmed, sometimes after receiving fragmented opinions.
Dr. Bukshtein’s approach centers on structured clinical reasoning:
- Careful review of imaging
- Correlation with neurological findings
- Evaluation of tumor biology when available
- Assessment of surgical feasibility
- Consideration of radiotherapy and systemic options
- Integration with oncology teams when required
Notes: Not every tumor requires surgery. Not every lesion requires immediate action.
In some patients, particularly older adults or those with slow-growing meningiomas, monitoring may be appropriate. In aggressive tumors such as glioblastoma, early combined therapy is usually necessary.
The decision is rarely binary.
Academic & Professional Memberships
- Israeli Neurological Association
- American Academy of Neurology
- European Association of Neuro-Oncology
Languages
- Hebrew
- Russian
- English
Request a Consultation
Patients seeking expert neuro-oncologic evaluation, second opinion, or treatment planning in Israel may request a private consultation.
📞 Phone: +972-73-374-6844
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 WhatsApp: +972-52-337-3108
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is every brain tumor cancer?
No. Brain tumors include both benign and malignant conditions. In clinical practice, some tumors—such as meningiomas—may remain stable for years and require only periodic monitoring. Others, like glioblastoma, behave more aggressively and usually need active treatment.
2. Do all brain tumors require surgery?
Not always. The decision depends on the tumor type, its location, and whether it causes symptoms. In some cases doctors recommend careful monitoring with MRI rather than immediate surgery.
3. What is the difference between glioma and glioblastoma?
Glioma is a broad category of tumors arising from glial cells in the brain. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive subtype within that group and usually requires combined treatment, often involving surgery, radiation therapy, and medication.
4. Do brain metastases always mean a terminal condition?
No. Although brain metastases indicate that cancer has spread, modern oncology offers several treatment strategies, including focused radiation, surgery, and systemic therapies depending on the primary tumor.
5. When should headaches raise concern?
Most headaches are not related to brain tumors. However, headaches that progressively worsen, occur together with neurological symptoms, or appear with seizures should be evaluated by a physician.
6. Are there new treatments being developed for brain tumors?
Yes. Research in neuro-oncology has advanced significantly over the past decade.
Today treatment decisions are often based not only on imaging, but also on the molecular profile of the tumor. This allows doctors to choose therapies that may work better for specific tumor types.
Many of these approaches are still being studied, but they are already changing how brain tumors are managed.
7. What role does immunotherapy play in brain tumor treatment?
Immunotherapy is being actively studied in several types of brain tumors.
The idea is to stimulate the patient’s immune system so it can recognize and attack tumor cells. While immunotherapy has become standard treatment for some cancers, its role in brain tumors is still evolving.
Clinical trials are currently exploring how these therapies can be used more effectively.
8. Are targeted therapies used for glioblastoma or other brain tumors?
Targeted therapies are designed to act on specific molecular changes inside tumor cells.
In some patients, genetic testing of the tumor can reveal mutations that allow doctors to consider targeted medications. These treatments do not replace surgery or radiation in most cases, but they may become part of a broader treatment strategy.
Research in this field continues to develop quickly.