Neuro-oncology
Treating neurological disorders related to cancer, and targeting complex brain tumors with advanced surgical technique, radiation and chemotherapy.
Neuro-oncologists and sub-specialists in neurosurgery and radiation oncology manage neurological disorders related to cancers, including complications from chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Experts also collaborate in the Brain Tumor Center to evaluate, treat and research primary and metastatic brain and spinal tumors. They discuss complex cases weekly in the multidisciplinary brain tumor conference. The team sees patients in one convenient session, prescribing treatment that incorporates the latest drugs and radiation, and surgical techniques such as:
- 3D computer-assisted surgical navigation to locate tumors and map surgical strategy
- endoscopic biopsy and excision of pituitary or intraventricular tumors
- skull base surgery for removal of tumors, such as meningiomas, chordomas and vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas), with minimum brain retraction
- microscopes, lasers, ultrasonic aspirators and an EMF vaporizer to remove tumors from critical structures
When surgery is not an option or when additional treatments are needed, specialists use stereotactic radiosurgery (XKnife), fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy, and IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy) to target radiation to the tumors. Physicians rely on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), functional MRI and MR angiography to diagnose and pinpoint tumor origin. Seminal research investigates clinical protocols to treat gliomas, meningiomas, ependymomas, lymphomas and metastases; new treatments to correct or inhibit genetic brain tumor abnormalities; and mechanisms of metastatic tumor invasion of the brain and blood brain barrier.
