US Senator Edward Kennedy, a leading Democrat and patriarch of a prominent US political dynasty, underwent surgery today for treatment of a brain tumour diagnosed last month.
Mr Kennedy (76) said in a statement he would have surgery today at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, followed by chemotherapy and radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Speaking this afternoon, Sen. Kennedy's doctor said the surgery was "successful".
"I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy's surgery was successful and accomplished our goals," Dr. Allan Friedman of Duke University Medical Center said in a brief statement.
Senator Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last month
Surgery was to start at about 9 am EDT (1300 GMT), CNN reported, and Kennedy said he expected to be hospitalised at Duke for about a week.
Mr Kennedy, who is the second-longest serving member of the current US Senate, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour called a glioma, a type of tumour that usually kills within three years.
"After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president," the Massachusetts Democrat said.