Comprehensive Treatment for Brain & Spinal Tumors

A diagnosis of brain tumor naturally evokes apprehension and anxiety among patients and their loved ones. Among the immediate concerns is the nature of treatment and the best place to obtain comprehensive care.

Neurosurgeons at the NJBSC have several years of experience in the management of brain tumors.  They have subspecialty fellowship training in neuro oncology and skull base and spinal surgery to provide state of the art treatment for all types of benign and malignant brain and spinal cord / column tumors. They work closely with the patient’s primary care physician and other sub specialists such as oncologists, radiation therapists, neurologists and neuroradiologists. Patient’s can expect personalized attention throughout the continuum of treatment of their neurological condition, with their neurosurgeon involved in every step of the way.

Before any treatment decisions can be made, a thorough neurological and general physical examination is essential. This coupled with a careful analysis of radiological images such as CT and MRI scans guides physicians at NJBSC to offer a plan of action. This may include periodic follow up, medical treatment, biopsy, surgical excision, radiosurgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy depending on the type of tumor. (see Patient Education section for types of tumors).

NJBSC surgeons routinely utilize advanced technology in the diagnosis and treatment of brain and spinal tumors:

• MR spectroscopy, perfusion scanning, functional MRI (fMRI), tractography and 3Tesla (3T) imaging
  Use of advanced operating microscopes that are linked to high definition (HD) external monitors and the neuro navigation system.
• Neuronavigation systems (Stealth, Stryker, Brainlab) that help plan safe approaches for biopsy, and excision of tumors.
• Stereotactic systems that allow 3-D (three dimensional) rendering of the normal brain structures and their relationship to the tumor, making complete extirpation of tumors possible with least amount of disturbance to normal functioning brain tissue.
• Awake craniotomies for tumors that are located in functionally critical areas of the brain such as motor or language cortex.

Intra operative cortical mapping techniques for monitoring of motor, sensory and language functions.
Endoscopic surgical approaches that avoid major opening of the skull or retraction of normal brain tissue.
Intraoperative imaging using CT, Fluroscopy, angiography and ultrasonography (SonoNav).

Radiosurgery

Radiosurgery involves precise delivery of multiple beams of focused radiation to accurately defined targets in the brain and spine. This is a non invasive, out patient treatment option for certain benign as well as malignant tumors that is as effective as surgery. NJBSC physicians employ advanced technology of Cyberknife, X Knife, Novalis and BrainLab radiosurgery systems in the treatment of benign and malignant tumors.

Radiation Therapy

While whole brain external radiation therapy (WBXRT) is used to prevent recurrences of brain metastasis, 3D conformal radiation therapy, Tomotherapy and stereotactic radiation therapy offer the optimal methods for treatment of several brain and spinal tumors. These techniques minimize the radiation delivered to surrounding normal brain and spinal cord tissues.

Chemotherapy

Our neurosurgeons actively collaborate with medical oncologists throughout the course of a patient’s systemic chemotherapy treatments – monitoring neurological function, side effects and optimizing steroid and other medications.

Clinical Trials

NJBSC physicians are actively involved in developing and participating in clinical trials to offer the latest available treatment options to our patients.