Brain Tumor Program
The Brain Tumor Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center provides a multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive care to patients with primary or metastatic central nervous system tumors. The core staff of the center include physicians with expertise in neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, and neuropathology, all of whom have appointments at Harvard Medical School.
Patient-centered Care
The Brain Tumor Center is designed around the needs of patients and their families. An evaluation in the center can be arranged within one week. Patients are seen by each clinical team member in just one session, eliminating the need to schedule multiple appointments. When necessary, patients can be directly admitted to the medical center for immediate treatment.
Our patients will also have access to the Beth Israel Deaconess Learning Center. Nurses are available to teach patients and their family self-care procedures. Staff at the Learning Center will also assist patients and their families in gathering information about their disease, including psycho-social support groups that are available in the Boston area.
State-of-the-art Diagnosis and Treatment
Patients of the Brain Tumor Center are evaluated and managed using state-of-the-art neurosurgical techniques, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy drugs. Some of the therapies are listed below:
Neurosurgical Procedures
- Viewing wand three-dimensional computer-assisted surgical navigation for tumor localization and operative planning
- View-Scope three-dimensional computer-assisted surgical navigation
- Endoscopic biopsy and excision of pituitary or intraventricular tumors
- Skull base surgery for removal of tumors, such as meningiomas, chordomas, and acoustic neuromas, in the base of skull
Radiation Therapy
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (XKnife) for focused delivery of radiation to primary or metastatic brain tumors
Chemotherapy Treatment Programs
- Brainstem Gliomas
Phase II study on radiotherapy + concurrent oral VP-16 (etoposide) and maintainence oral VP-16 for the treatment of pontine brainstem gliomas
- Leptomeningeal Metastases from Systemic Cancers
A randomized clinical study to determine the patient benefit and safety of DepoCytR (Cytarabine Liposome Injection) for the treatment of neoplastic meningitis
- Malignant Gliomas
- A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II study of the matrix metalloprotease inhibitor Prinomastat in combination with temozolomide following radiation therapy in patients having newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.
- A phase II study of 6-thioguanine + temozolomide in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas
- A phase I study of Infergen with carboplatin and etoposide for patients with high-grade gliomas
- Meningiomas
Phase II study of chronic hydroxyurea for recurrent or unresectable meningiomas
- Neuronal Tumors
Phase II trial of pre-radiation multiagent chemotherapy for adults with "poor risk" medulloblastoma, PNET, and disseminated ependymoma
Additional trials available in the Brain Tumor Center will be updated periodically.
Evaluation Needs
In order to facilitate our evaluation of referred patients, arrangements will be made to obtain clinic notes, neuroimaging scans, and pathology slides from referring physicians. Because neuroimaging features and exact pathological diagnosis are necessary for proper evaluation of patients, every effort will be made to obtain these items prior to evaluation.
Working with Referring Physicians
Members of the Brain Tumor Center maintain close working relationships with referring physicians. As recommendations are finalized, referring physicians are contacted by phone or by fax regarding our recommended treatment plan. A formal consultation note is also sent to the referring physician within one week. In addition, to ensure continuity of care, we encourage patients to follow-up with their primary care or referring physicians.
