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Dr Sharon Low

Dr Sharon Low

MBBS, MRCS (Ed), MMed (Surgery), PhD, FRCS (Surgical Neurology), GDPM

Research Interest:
  • ​Neuro-oncology
  • CNS-related neoplasms

Clinical Appointments

  • Head of Service & Senior Consultant Department of Neurosurgery National Neuroscience InstituteNational Neuroscience Institute
  • Head & Senior Consultant Neurosurgical Service KK Women's and Children's HospitalKK Women's and Children's Hospital
  • Senior Consultant Paediatric Brain and Solid Tumour Programme KK Women's and Children's HospitalKK Women's and Children's Hospital
  • Senior Consultant Division of Surgery & Surgical Oncology National Cancer Centre SingaporeNational Cancer Centre Singapore

Profile

Dr Sharon Low is the current Head of the Neurosurgical Service at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

She completed her Advanced Surgical Training (Neurosurgery) at the National Neuroscience Institute (Singapore). In 2015, she obtained her research PhD at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and her specialty FRCS (Surgical Neurology) exams. In her pursuit of holistic care for patients, she undertook the Graduate Diploma of Palliative Medicine (GDPM) in 2020.

At present, she is an Assistant Professor at the Duke-NUS School of Medicine and is one of the Principal Investigators of the VIVA-KKH Paediatric Brain and Solid Tumours Laboratory. She strongly believes that the best approach to managing patients requires good neurosurgical techniques and in-depth understanding of each condition.

Her ethos is that lives of patients can only be objectively improved through evidence-based medicine. Her main research interest is in paediatric neuro-oncology, with a focus on difficult childhood brain tumours that are refractory to treatment.

To date, she has contributed more than 70 peer-reviewed clinical and scientific publications and continues to do so as part of her commitment to academic medicine. In addition, she has won several awards in health services, research, and clinical contributions at institutional and national levels.

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

  • Head of Service and Senior Consultant, Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute
  • ​Head of Service and Senior Consultant, Neurosurgical Services, KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Education

  • MBBS

Awards

  • National Awards (COVID-19) (Commendation Medal), 2022
  • Residency in SingHealth Excels (RiSE) Award (Outstanding Faculty Award), 2022
  • SingHealth Publish! Award, 2021
  • Singapore Health Quality Service Awards (Silver), 2020
  • NNI Service Quality Award (Silver), 2019
  • Best Registrar Award, SingHealth Best Junior Doctors Award, 2016
  • NRF-MOH Healthcare Research Scholarship (PhD), 2011
  • ​Outstanding Medical Officer Award, NUH General Surgery, 2007

Research Studies

Publications

  • Koh KM, Ng Z, Low SY, Chua HZ, Chou N, Low SW, et al. Management of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in the post-ISAT era: outcome of surgical clipping versus endovascular coiling in a Singapore tertiary institution. Singapore medical journal. 2013;54(6):332-8.
  • Lim JX, King N, Low S, Ng WH. Serum procalcitonin is a marker for prediction of readmission from an intermediate care to an acute care hospital in neurosurgical patients. Surg Neurol Int. 2015;6:144.
  • Low YY, Ng WH. A promising light for an impossible disease: miRNAs in malignant gliomas. CNS Oncol. 2013;2(2):107-9.
  • Low YYS. 'Who is Responsible for this Patient?': A Case Study Analysis of Conflicting Interests between Patient, Family and Doctor in a Singaporean Context. Asian Bioethics Review. 2011;3(3):261-71.
  • Low YYS, Seow WT. The Child with a Brain Tumour: Vulnerability Perspectives from Neurosurgery. 2015;7(2).
  • Low YYS. “Dying Well” in Singapore: Reflecting on Terminal Cancer Management. Asian Bioethics Review. 2012;4(3):226-35.
  • Low YY, Thomas J, Wan WK, Ng WH. Brain metastases as a cause of malignant cerebrospinal fluid ascites: case report and review of the literature. CNS Oncol. 2012;1(1):29-37.
  • Low SY, Ong CW, Hsueh PR, Tambyah PA, Yeo TT. Neisseria gonorrhoeae paravertebral abscess. J Neurosurg Spine. 2012;17(1):93-7.
  • Low SY, Ho YK, Too HP, Yap CT, Ng WH. MicroRNA as potential modulators in chemoresistant high-grade gliomas. J Clin Neurosci. 2014;21(3):395-400.
  • Low CY, Low YY, Lee KK, Chan SP, Ang BT. Post-traumatic hydrocephalus after ventricular shunt placement in a Singaporean neurosurgical unit. J Clin Neurosci. 2013;20(6):867-72.
  • Low YY, Lai SH, Ng WH. An unusual presentation of primary malignant B-cell-type dural lymphoma. Singapore medical journal. 2014;55(11):e187-90.
  • Wan KR, King NK, Low SY, Sitoh YY, Lee HY, Wong CF, et al. Synchronous multicentric glioblastoma with PNET and O subtypes: Possible pathogenesis. Surg Neurol Int. 2014;5:31.
  • Yeo JJ, Low SY, Seow WT, Low DC. Pediatric de novo cerebral AVM: report of two cases and review of literature. Childs Nerv Syst. 2015;31(4):609-14.
  • Chua FH, Low SY, Tham CK, Ding C, Wong CF, Nolan CP. Disseminated extracranial metastatic meningioma. J Clin Neurosci. 2016;33:214-6.
  • Lee L, Low S, Low D, Ng LP, Nolan C, Seow WT. Late pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunt failures: a Singapore tertiary institution's experience. Neurosurg Focus. 2016;41(5):E7.
  • Sharon LY, Wai Hoe NG. 'Subarachnoid cyst' after evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma: Case report of an unusual postoperative morbidity. Asian J Neurosurg. 2016;11(3):316.
  • Yan B, Kuick CH, Lim M, Yong MH, Lee CK, Low SY, et al. Characterization of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive medulloblastomas. J Clin Neurosci. 2016;23:120-2.
  • Yeo JJ, Low YY, Putti TC, Koh KM. Adult intraventricular astroblastoma. Singapore medical journal. 2016;57(1):53-4.
  • Ang SY, Ng VW, Kumar SD, Low SY. Cryptococcosis mimicking lung carcinoma with brain metastases in an immunocompetent patient. J Clin Neurosci. 2017;35:73-5.
  • Chua FHZ, Low DCY, Lian DWQ, Tew SW, Low SYY. Anomalous intracranial germinoma with unilateral cerebral peduncle swelling. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017;33(4):563-5.
  • Chua JY, Ling JM, Lian DWQ, Chan MY, Low DCY, Low SYY. Altano-axial subluxation with torticollis secondary to Langerhans cell histocytosis. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery. 2017;10:101-3.
  • Chua FHZ, Low DCY, Lian DWQ, Ng LP, Chang KTE, Loh E, et al. Medulloblastoma with tri-vergent melanocytic, myogenic and cartiligious elements. J Clin Neurosci. 2017;41:100-3.
  • Chua FHZ, Thien A, Ng LP, Seow WT, Low DCY, Chang KTE, et al. Post-operative diffusion weighted imaging as a predictor of posterior fossa syndrome permanence in paediatric medulloblastoma. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017;33(3):457-65.
  • Low SYY, Lian DWQ, Tang PH, Loh E, Seow WT, Low DCY. Concurrent paediatric medulloblastoma and Chiari I malformation with syringomyelia. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017;33(6):881-3.
  • Qiu L, Tang YL, King NKK, Chuah KL, Lai SH, Lim KHC, et al. IDH1 mutant negative ganglioglioma progression to gliosarcoma. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery. 2017;9:41-4.
  • Chan SH, Chew W, Ishak NDB, Lim WK, Li ST, Tan SH, et al. Clinical relevance of screening checklists for detecting cancer predisposition syndromes in Asian childhood tumours. NPJ Genom Med. 2018;3:30.
  • Chen M, Low DCY, Low SYY, Muzumdar D, Seow WT. Management of brain abscesses: where are we now? Childs Nerv Syst. 2018;34(10):1871-80.
  • Looi WS, Low DCY, Low SYY, Goh SH. Neonatal orbital swelling due to intracranial teratoma. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019;104(4):F365.
  • Low SYY, Soh SY, Chen MW, Ng LP, Low DCY, Seow WT. DTI fusion with conventional MR imaging in intra-operative MRI suite for paediatric brainstem glioma biopsy. Childs Nerv Syst. 2018;34(1):19-21.
  • Low SYY, Wei CM, Chang KTE, Huak CY, Ping NL, Tew SW, et al. Intra-operative cerebrospinal fluid sampling versus post-operative lumbar puncture for detection of leptomeningeal disease in malignant paediatric brain tumours. PloS one. 2018;13(5):e0196696.
  • Tan GI, Low DC, Ng LP, Seow WT, Low SY. Synchronous Chiari III Malformation and Polydactyly. World Neurosurg. 2018;118:301-3.
  • Yeo JJY, Chang KTE, Ng LP, Seow WT, Low DCY, Low SYY. Cystic Cavernoma of Fourth Ventricle in Pediatric Patient. World Neurosurg. 2018;111:255-7.
  • Khalid MT, Chan DWS, Tan EEK, Seow WT, Ng LP, Low DCY, et al. Right middle cerebral artery infarct after minor head trauma in an infant: Case report and literature review. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2019;6(3):121-4.
  • Low SY, Lee HY, Yeo MS. Primary Angiosarcoma Masquerading as Scalp Haematoma After Head Injury. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2019;48(10):341-4.
  • Low SYY, Kuick CH, Seow WY, Bte Syed Sulaiman N, Chen H, Lian DWQ, et al. Primary paediatric epidural sarcomas: molecular exploration of three cases. BMC cancer. 2019;19(1):182.
  • Low SYY, Iqbal J, Chang KTE, Koh RKM. Symptomatic radionecrosis of cerebral arteriovenous malformation post-stereotactic radiosurgery: Report of 2 cases. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery. 2019;16:54-7.
  • Low SYY, Ng LP, Tan AJL, Low DCY, Seow WT. The Seow Operative Score (SOS) as a decision-making adjunct for paediatric Chiari I malformation: a preliminary study. Childs Nerv Syst. 2019;35(10):1777-83.
  • Low SYY, Ker JR, Ng LP, Seow WT, Low DCY. Thoracic epidural haematoma after spinal manipulation treatment. Childs Nerv Syst. 2019;35(5):735-7.
  • Primalani NK, Quek TJ, Low DCY, Low SYY. Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Presenting As Cervicogenic Headache: Case Report and Review of Literature. World Neurosurg. 2019;130:550-4.
  • Tan GIL, Merchant K, Tan EEK, Low DCY, Ng LP, Seow WT, et al. A germline variant of TP53 in paediatric diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumour. Childs Nerv Syst. 2019;35(6):1021-7.
  • Wan KR, Kirollos RW, Lee HY, Low DCY, Ng LP, Seow WT, et al. Giant Aneurysm Arising from Anomalous Branch of the Middle Cerebral Artery in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature. World Neurosurg. 2019;128:165-8.
  • Hee E, Wong MK, Tan SH, Choo Z, Kuick CH, Ling S, et al. Neuroblastoma patient-derived cultures are enriched for a mesenchymal gene signature and reflect individual drug response. Cancer Sci. 2020;111(10):3780-92.
  • Chan BYL, Merchant KZ, Teo JGC, Chang KTE, Low DCY, Low SYY. Sporadic Meningioangiomatosis Presenting as a Middle Cranial Fossa Arachnoid Cyst. World Neurosurg. 2020;137:247-51.
  • Liang S, Lim JX, Lee HY, Low SY. Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma Presenting as Multifocal Brain Abscesses. Cureus. 2020;12(12):e12068.
  • Low SYY, Seow WT. Biventricular hydrocephalus secondary to aqueductal developmental venous anomaly. J Clin Neurosci. 2020;76:240-3.
  • Low SYY, Bte Syed Sulaiman N, Tan EEK, Ng LP, Kuick CH, Chang KTE, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid cytokines in metastatic group 3 and 4 medulloblastoma. BMC cancer. 2020;20(1):554.
  • Low SYY, Cheng H, Zou R, Ng LP, Kuick CH, Syed Sulaiman NB, et al. Molecular exploration of paediatric intracranial germinomas from multi-ethnic Singapore. BMC Neurol. 2020;20(1):415.
  • Low SYY, Lim EHL, Loh LE, Mok YH, Siow YN, Ng LP, et al. Use of an Offsite Intraoperative MRI Operating Theater for Pediatric Brain Tumor Surgery: Experience from a Singapore Children's Hospital. World Neurosurg. 2020;135:e28-e35.
  • Mahtani S, Tan JMC, Low SYY, Nolan CP, Ong RYL, Lam JCM, et al. RARE CASE OF POTT'S DISEASE CAUSED BY BACILLUS-CALMETTE GUÉRIN VACCINE. J Paediatr Child Health. 2020;56(10):1655-6.
  • Ong JA, Low SY, Seow WT, Goh CP, Yeo TT, Chou N, et al. Revascularisation surgery for paediatric moyamoya disease: The Singapore experience. J Clin Neurosci. 2020;82(Pt B):207-13.
  • Qiu L, Chigurupathi S, Seow WT, Yy Low S. Intraoperative visual evoked potential monitoring for optic pathway glioma in an infant: A case description. Clin Neurophysiol. 2020;131(8):1772-4.
  • Tan LQ, Nagaputra JC, Soh SY, Ng LP, Low DCY, Low SYY. Extraneural metastatic paediatric glioblastoma: Case report and literature review. J Clin Neurosci. 2020;76:246-8.
  • Thevandiran D, Nga V, Chang KTE, Ng LP, Seow WT, Low DCY, et al. Paediatric meningiomas in Singapore - Case series of a rare entity. J Clin Neurosci. 2020;73:62-6.
  • han JL, Tan ALJ, Ng LP, Low DCY, Wan Tew S, Low SYY. Paediatric arachnoid cysts: Surgical outcomes from a Singapore children's hospital. J Clin Neurosci. 2021;85:122-31.
  • Khan S, Solano-Paez P, Suwal T, Lu M, Al-Karmi S, Ho B, et al. Clinical phenotypes and prognostic features of embryonal tumours with multi-layered rosettes: a Rare Brain Tumor Registry study. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2021;5(11):800-13.
  • Koelsche C, Schrimpf D, Stichel D, Sill M, Sahm F, Reuss DE, et al. Sarcoma classification by DNA methylation profiling. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):498.
  • Koh KN, Wong RX, Lee DE, Han JW, Byun HK, Yoon HI, et al. Outcomes of intracranial germinoma-A retrospective multinational Asian study on effect of clinical presentation and differential treatment strategies. Neuro Oncol. 2022;24(8):1389-99.
  • Bte Syed Sulaiman N, Kuick CH, Chang KTE, Wan KR, Looi WS, Low DCY, et al. Cytokines in Pediatric Pilocytic Astrocytomas: A Clinico-Pathological Study. NeuroSci. 2021;2(1):95-108.
  • Oon ML, Low SYY, Kuick CH, Goh JY, Chang KTE, McLendon RE, et al. An Unusual Ganglioglioma with Pseudopapillary Features and PRKAR2B-BRAF Fusion. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. 2021;80(10):1000-3.
  • Tey ML, Ng LP, Low DCY, Seow WT, Low SYY. Programmable Shunt Valves for Pediatric Hydrocephalus: 22-Year Experience from a Singapore Children's Hospital. Brain Sci. 2021;11(11).
  • Cheong TM, Lim JX, Vinchon M, Ng LP, Low DCY, Seow WT, et al. Decompressive surgery in abusive head injury: Experience from a Singapore children's hospital and a review of literature. Childs Nerv Syst. 2022.
  • Foo YW, Lim JX, Primalani NK, Ng LP, Seow WT, Low DCY, et al. Tethered cord secondary to focal nondisjunction of the primary neural tube: experience from a Singapore children's hospital. Br J Neurosurg. 2022:1-7.
  • Hong KT, Han JW, Fuji H, Byun HK, Koh KN, Wong RX, et al. Outcomes of intracranial non-germinomatous germ cell tumors: a retrospective Asian multinational study on treatment strategies and prognostic factors. J Neurooncol. 2022;160(1):41-53.
  • Lim JX, Fong E, Goh C, Ng LP, Merchant K, Low DCY, et al. Fibrofatty filum terminale: long-term outcomes from a Singapore children's hospital. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022:1-9.
  • Lim JX, Tan EEK, Ng LP, Seow WT, Chang KTE, Wong RX, et al. Monomodality versus Combined Therapy in Optic Pathway Gliomas-20-Year Experience from a Singapore Children's Hospital. Front Surg. 2022;9:827675.
  • Lim JX, Cheong TM, Ng LP, Seow WT, Chua FHZ, Kirollos RW, et al. Paediatric Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation: Outcomes from a Singapore Children's Hospital. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2022;31(3):106283.
  • Lim YG, Tan EE, Looi WS, Wong RX, Chang KT, Low DC, et al. Biopsy of paediatric brainstem intrinsic tumours: Experience from a Singapore Children's Hospital. J Clin Neurosci. 2022;106:8-13.
  • Lim JX, Low SY, Ng LP, Seow WT. Prevention and treatment of CSF leaks in congenital complex spinal lipomas. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2022;164(4):1157-60.
  • Liu SJ, Aw NMY, Lim MJR, Tew Seow W, Low DCY, Kimpo MS, et al. Paediatric brain tumours in Singapore: A 15-year epidemiological and outcome study. J Clin Neurosci. 2022;101:154-61.
  • Primalani NK, Chan YH, Ng ZM, Chong SL, Seow WT, Loh LE, et al. Abusive head injury in the very young: outcomes from a Singapore children's hospital. Childs Nerv Syst. 2022.
  • Primalani NK, Chew KY, Ramachandran S, Ng LP, Low DCY, Seow WT, et al. Paediatric cranioplasty—Experience from a Singapore children’s hospital. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery. 2022;30:101606.
  • Low YYS, Lim J. X., Seow WT. Response to editorial. The elusive fibrofatty filum holy grail. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022:1-2.
  • Lim JX, Qiu L, Low SYY, Seow WT. Paediatric Brain Tumours: Rare Variants. In: Alexiou G, Prodromou N, editors. Pediatric Neurosurgery for Clinicians. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2022. p. 371-96.
  • Low YYS, Tan TLM, Seow WT. Primary Intracranial Germ Cell Tumors. In: MIsra BK, Laws ER, Kaye AH, editors. Current Progress in Neurosurgery Volume 2. 2. 1 ed: TreeLife Media (A Div of Kothari Medical); 2017.