James K. Liu, MD

If you've just been diagnosed with a paraganglioma and you're reading reviews because you're scared, overwhelmed, or wondering where to turn, I understand exactly how you feel. I was in your shoes. After consulting with multiple surgeons, I ultimately traveled from Texas to New Jersey to have my lower neck paraganglioma removed by Dr. James Liu. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Dr. Liu is truly exceptional. His skill, precision, and expertise with these rare tumors are evident from the moment you meet him. Paragangliomas often involve delicate nerves and major blood vessels, and they require a surgeon with an extraordinary level of experience. Dr. Liu has that experience. What impressed me just as much as his surgical ability was the way he cared for me as a person. He patiently answered every question I had, never rushed me, and made sure I understood exactly what to expect. I always felt heard, respected, and confident that I was in the best hands… possible. One moment I'll never forget was receiving a personal phone call from him after he had already spent the entire day in surgery. He simply wanted to check on me and see how I was doing. That kind of compassion and dedication says everything about the physician he is. If you've been told your tumor is difficult, if you're afraid of surgery, or if you're wondering whether traveling is worth it, I encourage you to reach out to Dr. Liu. Some surgeons may rarely encounter these tumors, but this is an area in which he has devoted his career. His experience allows him to accomplish things that many others simply cannot. I will always be grateful for the care Dr. Liu gave me. He gave me confidence when I needed it most, treated me with incredible kindness, and performed a surgery that changed my life. I hope my review gives someone else the courage to take that first step and contact him. If you're considering Dr. Liu, know that you will be placing your trust in one of the very best.

Dr. Liu took care of the pituitary tumor removal. More specifically, it was an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection of a large pituitary adenoma. He was very professional, understanding, caring, and accommodating from the very beginning. 100% recommend him for anyone navigating through this complex health care system.

I can’t thank Dr. James Liu enough for everything he’s done. If it weren’t for my radiation nurse finding him, I don’t know what I would have done. I remember having my first seizure while playing basketball in high school in 2022. Afterward, doctors told my parents I had an AVM (arteriovenous malformation). At the time, they said it was inoperable, so surgery was not an option. The only available treatment was radiation, which eventually led to complications. Thanks to my wonderful radiation nurse, I was introduced to Dr. Liu, one of the top neurosurgeons, who successfully removed my AVM. Immediately after surgery, I had normal neurological function. I highly recommend Dr. Liu to anyone looking for a skilled, compassionate neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive treatment for brain aneurysms and complex brain, skull base, spine, and spinal cord conditions. He is an exceptional surgeon, and I will always be grateful for the care he gave me.

After receiving the diagnosis of a skull base clinoidal meningioma that caused vision loss in my right eye. I searched for medical opinions from many different neurosurgeons. It wasn’t until I met with Dr. Liu that I found some comfort during the scariest time of my life. Something I didn’t think was possible. He thoroughly explained every aspect of my diagnosis and surgery, ensuring I understood what to expect. Dr. Liu personally selected the surgical team that would be present during my craniotomy. Most doctors just perform the surgery but Dr. Liu made sure he or his staff checked in to make sure I was ready for surgery and to answer any last minute questions. My surgery was quite complex but you wouldn’t know that considering my recovery has been very smooth. Dr. Liu even checked in on me on a holiday weekend. Dr. Liu is a talented and intelligent surgeon with exceptional skill and expertise who saved my life, showed me compassion and has been there for me since the second I met… him. Even under the unfortunate circumstances I consider myself blessed to have crossed paths with him.

I am so thankful for finding Dr. Liu as the neurosurgeon to perform my endoscopic endonasal removal of the craniopharyngioma that was discovered when I had a routine brain MRI. I went to Dr. Liu for a second opinion and was pleased to hear that there was a less invasive option available to the removal of my tumor other than a full craniotomy. When meeting with Dr. Liu, he gave me the confidence to proceed with what would turn out to be a successful procedure. I am pleased with the progress of my recovery and his kind follow ups and care.

In March 2026, I had bypass surgery for Moyamoya disease performed by Dr. James K. Liu. Throughout my treatment, he was not only an exceptionally skilled neurosurgeon but also kind, patient, and reassuring. He took the time to explain everything clearly and made me feel confident and well cared for every step of the way. I truly appreciate the outstanding care I received and highly recommend Dr. Liu to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and compassionate neurosurgeon.

The thought of having pituitary tumor scared me so much that I spent the time with my sister to research online for the best neurosurgeons in NJ. Who came up on top is Dr Liu. I made up my mind to call him when he came up on top again after I compared him with 2 recommendations from friends using ChatGPT. We were fortunate to see him within the week after I called. He showed us how big the tumor was in the MRI results and explained in detail how it will be removed thru the nose. He also introduced us to Dr Eloy who is the ENT doctor that he will partner with during the surgery. We were even more fortunate for the surgery to be done on the following week. It took between 3 to 4 hours. Dr Liu called my sister right after he removed the tumor while Dr Eloy was still closing out the operation. He told her that the tumor was successfully removed and none of the possible risks of the operation happened. The first thing I checked when I woke up was my vision which was affected by the tumor… that was pressing on my optic nerves. I was so happy to see that my vision was back to normal and everything else was working properly. My sister was surprised to see me already conversing with the attending nurse when she was called in to the recovery room. I was in the hospital for 3 days. Everyday Dr Liu came to check to see how I was doing. It is now a month and a half since the surgery. Apart from a slight headache and stuffed nose, I’m on the right track to recovery. Another month and a half and I should fully recover. I’m really glad that we found Dr Liu. He really is the best. We will be forever grateful to him for giving me my second life with his expertise and caring attitude.

I struggled with an extremely rare neuro-ophthalmic condition - Superior Oblique Myokymia (SOM). Because of its rarity, I was dismissed by numerous providers and told my condition could be anxiety, vertigo, or vision convergence insufficiency. When I finally had the relief of a proper diagnosis that I pursued myself, the medications prescribed did not alleviate my symptoms. It was such an isolating, depressing feeling to have this condition with no medical expertise to guide me. For years, my life was limited in so many aspects because of SOM. The debilitating sensation of motion sickness while sitting still and constant double vision of varying degrees was something I sadly believed I would have to live with forever. I dreamed of having stable vision and the ability to see the world in a single, steady plane. I thought I would never have the chance to have my visual sensation normal again. When I first made my appointment with Dr. Liu, I could tell he truly cared. I could tell in our… appointment that he reviewed the little literature available on SOM beforehand; no other provider did their research like this on my behalf!!! This, and other patient testimonies, told me that he was the right surgeon for the job. He approached SOM as a nerve compression disorder, rather than a primary ocular muscle disorder. When it came to the surgery, Dr. Liu quite literally pioneered a new surgical approach to relieve the compression of my 4th cranial nerve and flawlessly delivered it. He gave me my life back; I have no words to describe it adequately. I have experienced no side effects from the procedure; such as 4th nerve palsy, which commonly happened to the few people in the world that the condition surgically managed. My plane of vision is now steady. I feel such an immense amount of peace. I can now watch the birds fly around outside my window, see my dogs playing together in the grass, watch beach waves break on the shore, etc., in one solid, beautiful image. This sounds boring, but to experience this again with no symptoms is truly extraordinary. No longer do I have to wear an eyepatch to read a book, study, or write an email ever again! Dr. Liu’s entire team is wonderful, both in the OR and in his office. Aida has been so helpful and supportive at my follow-up visits. Their partnership is wonderful. I trust Dr. Liu like nobody else. While he is a superhero to me, he is also consistently humble, kind, and extremely brilliant. I am forever and profoundly grateful for the care Dr. Liu has given me.

My mom had very successful experience with the clipping of her complex brain aneurysm by Dr. James Liu at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. The team has been amazing as well. We were well informed throughout the process and treated like family! A big shout out to Dr. Lui's nurse Aida, couldn't have asked for a more caring and genuine person!

From the moment of my mom's GBM diagnosis, Dr. Liu has been by our side. His credentials speak for themselves, but what sets him apart is how genuinely he handles every patient — with care, patience, and a calm presence that steadies you when nothing else can. He's now performed 3 craniotomies on mom — each more complex than the last — but she's come back stronger to continue the fight. He's been with us every step of the way, always accessible and present. You can tell he's genuinely passionate about his work and his patients. My family is so incredibly grateful for everything he's done for us. We couldn't recommend him enough.