Thiago Rodrigues, MD, PhD

Dr. Thiago Rodrigues, MD, PhD, is a neurosurgeon based in São Paulo, Brazil, with expertise in spine surgery, functional neurosurgery, and the treatment of chronic pain. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Dr. Thiago Rodrigues - Neurocirurgião e Instrutor Clínico na University of Iowa

Education

Versão em Português

PhD in Neuroscience Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Master’s Degree in Healthcare Technologies Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Clinical Observership in Neurosurgery (1 month) Ohio State University College of Medicine – Columbus, Ohio, USA
Clinical Observership in Functional Neurosurgery (1 month) John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford – Oxford, United Kingdom
Clinical Observership in Neurosurgery (1 month) Barrow Neurological Institute – Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Board Certification in Pain Medicine Brazilian Society for the Study of Pain (SBED)
Board Certification in Neurosurgery Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery (SBN)
Residency in Pain Medicine University of São Paulo (USP)
Residency in Neurosurgery Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP)
ECFMG Certified (United States) Eligible for medical practice in the United States USMLE Step 1: Pass USMLE Step 2 CK: 263 (89th percentile) USMLE Step 3: 244 (90th percentile)
Doctor of Medicine (MD) State University of Londrina (UEL)

Honors and Distinctions

Honorable Mention – Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery (2016) Highest average score across all annual examinations during the five years of neurosurgery residency training.
Paulo Niemeyer Prize (2014) Award for research in epilepsy surgery.
Second Highest Score (out of 150 candidates) Brazilian Board Examination in Neurosurgery (2016).

Professional Experience

Neurosurgeon (Head of Pain surgery - Neurosurgery) Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) — 2017–Present
Neurosurgeon Professor Doutor Alípio Corrêa Netto Municipal Hospital — 2018–2021
Neurosurgeon Diadema State Hospital — 2013–2017
Private Practice (2016–Present) Member of the medical staff at multiple institutions, including: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein Santa Catarina Hospital Nove de Julho Hospital Villa Nova Star Hospital Rede São Luiz

Photo Gallery

Peer-Reviewed Publications (PubMed Indexed)

Rodrigues TP, Rodrigues MAS, Bocca LF, Cavalcante Filho JRM, Oliveira IA, Centeno RS. Superselective Posterior Cervical Rhizotomy for Upper Limbs Spasticity: 3-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg. 2026. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Bocca LF, Yacubian EMT, Guaranha MSB, Alonso NB, Junior HC, Noffs MHS, Caboclo LO, Duarte JTC, Centeno RS. Long-term predictors of seizure outcome after anterior temporal lobectomy in unilateral hippocampal sclerosis: A 281-patient cohort with mean 10-year follow-up. Epileptic Disord. 2026. [Ver Artigo]
Cavalcante Filho JRM, Favi Bocca L, Guaranha MSB, Rodrigues TP, Centeno RS. Electrophysiological intraoperative localization for focal onset refractory epilepsy: Two-dimensional operative video. Surg Neurol Int. 2026. [Ver Artigo]
Bocca LF, Silva AIK, Bortholin T, Rodrigues TP, de Oliveira IA, Sparapani FVC, Cavalheiro S, Stavale JN, Onishi FJ. Intramedullary Epidermoid Cyst Recurrence Diagnosed With Computed Tomography Myelography: A Case Report. Case Rep Neurol Med. 2025. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues MAS, Rodrigues TP, Bach ABM, Paulo AJM, Nasvlasky MS, Duarte YAO, Zatz M, Amaro Junior E. Exploring the relationship between cognitive performance and magnetic resonance imaging diffusion parameters in elderly individuals. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2025. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Rodrigues MAS, Bocca LF, Neto FEC, Cavalheiro S, Júnior EA, Silva GS, Suriano IC, Centeno RS. Time course of hemispheric cerebral volume after decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery stroke. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. 2023. [Ver Artigo]
Favi Bocca L, Pereira Rodrigues T, Bortholin T, Targas Yacubian EM, Carrete Júnior H, Guaranha M, Silva Centeno R. Case report: Successful anterior temporal lobectomy in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy associated with Sotos syndrome. Frontiers in Neurology. 2023. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Rodrigues MAS, Bocca LF, Chaddad-Neto FE, Cavalheiro S, Junior EA, Silva GS, Suriano IC, Centeno RS. Decompressive craniectomy index: Does the size of decompressive craniectomy matter in malignant middle cerebral artery infarction? Surgical Neurology International. 2022. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Silva Rodrigues MA, Centeno RS. Intraoperative Ultrasound Using Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning: A Way to Guide Intraspinal Cord Therapeutic Lesions. World Neurosurgery. 2022. [Ver Artigo]
Bocca LF, Lima JVF, Suriano IC, Cavalheiro S, Rodrigues TP. Traumatic acute subdural hematoma and coma: retrospective cohort of surgically treated patients. Surgical Neurology International. 2021. [Ver Artigo]
Sarti THM, Paz DA, Diniz JM, Kim IHT, Rodrigues TP, Cavalheiro S, Suriano IC. External cranioplasty for the syndrome of the trephined – Case report. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery. 2021. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues MAS, Rodrigues TP, Zatz M, Lebrão ML, Duarte YA, Naslavsky MS, do Nascimento FBP, Amaro Junior E. Quantitative evaluation of brain volume among elderly individuals in São Paulo, Brazil: a population-based study. Radiologia Brasileira. 2019. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues MAS, Rodrigues TP, Costa MDSD, Zymberg ST, Suriano ÍC, Cavalheiro S. Suprapineal recess diverticulum of the third ventricle exerting a mass effect on the midbrain and cerebellum. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. 2018. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Rodrigues MAS, Suriano IC, Zymberg ST. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Associated with Symptomatic Perineural Cysts: Presentation of 2 Cases. World Neurosurgery. 2018. [Ver Artigo]
Paz DA, da Costa MDS, Rodrigues TP, Riechelmann GS, Suriano ÍC, Zymberg ST. Endoscopic Treatment of a Third Ventricular Epidermoid Cyst. World Neurosurgery. 2017. [Ver Artigo]
Silva da Costa MD, Lopes Braga V, de Araújo Paz D, Pereira Rodrigues T, Cappellano AM, de Seixas Alves MT, Saba-Silva N, Cavalheiro S. Insular intracranial hemangiopericytoma in a child. Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences. 2017. [Ver Artigo]
da Costa MDS, de Oliveira Santos BF, de Araujo Paz D, Rodrigues TP, Abdala N, Centeno RS, Cavalheiro S, Lawton MT, Chaddad-Neto F. Anatomical Variations of the Anterior Clinoid Process: A Study of 597 Skull Base Computerized Tomography Scans. Operative Neurosurgery. 2016. [Ver Artigo]
da Costa MDS, Centeno RSC, Neto MR, Doria Netto HL, Campos Filho JM, Paz DA, Rodrigues TP, Telles BE, Lancellotti CLP, Cavalheiro S. Anaplastic Ganglioglioma of the Pineal Region – A Case Report. Brazilian Neurosurgery. 2016. [Ver Artigo]
Cavalheiro S, Yagmurlu K, da Costa MD, Nicácio JM, Rodrigues TP, Chaddad-Neto F, Rhoton AL. Surgical approaches for brainstem tumors in pediatric patients. Child's Nervous System. 2015. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues T, Rodrigues M, Paz D, Costa MD, Santos B, Braga V, Paiva Neto Md, Centeno R, Cavalheiro S, Chaddad-Neto F. Is the omega sign a reliable landmark for the neurosurgical team? An anatomical study about the central sulcus region. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. 2015. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Rodrigues MA, Paz Dde A, Costa MD, Centeno RS, Chaddad Neto FE, Cavalheiro S. Orbitofrontal sulcal and gyrus pattern in human: an anatomical study. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. 2015. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Paz DA, da Costa MDS, Toso FF, Ferraz MEMR, Lamis FC, Idagawa MH, Tibana LAT, Abdala N, Cavalheiro S, Suriano IC. Reversible Obstructive Hydrocephalus from Hypertensive Encephalopathy: A Condition that Neurosurgeons Must Know. Brazilian Neurosurgery. 2015. [Ver Artigo]
da Costa MD, Paz Dde A, Rodrigues TP, Gandolfi AC, Lamis FC, Stavale JN, Suriano IC, Cetl LD, Cavalheiro S. Hemorrhagic onset of spinal angiolipoma. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2014. [Ver Artigo]
Suriano IC, Maset AL, Fontolan TA, Monteiro R, Pinto JRC, Andrade JR, Freitas DG, Rodrigues TP, Paz DA, Cavalheiro S. Modifications in catheter dimensions upon shunt implantation. Brazilian Neurosurgery. 2012. [Ver Artigo]
Rodrigues TP, Dias MA, Hohl A, Longo Mazzuco T. Pathophysiology of the traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic hypopituitarism. Biosaúde. 2008. [Ver Artigo]