title: The evolution and future of minimalism in neurological surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The evolution of the field of neurological surgery has been marked by a progressive minimalism. This has been evident in the development of an entire arsenal of modern neurosurgical enterprises, including microneurosurgery, neuroendoscopy, stereotactic neurosurgery, endovascular techniques, radiosurgical systems, intraoperative and navigational devices, and in the last decade, cellular and molecular adjuvants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In addition to reviewing the major developments and paradigm shifts in the cyclic reinvention of the field as it currently stands, this paper attempts to identify forces and developments that are likely to fuel the irresistible escalation of minimalism into the future. These forces include discoveries in computational science, imaging, molecular science, biomedical engineering, and information processing as they relate to the theme of minimalism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These areas are explained in the light of future possibilities offered by the emerging field of nanotechnology with molecular engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1975 Zonal Avenue, KAM 415, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Charles Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael L J
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Apuzzo
mesh_terms: D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000639:trends*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted