Brain and Spine Tumors

This is why the ongoing work at the Brain Tumor Center at Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, Georgia is so special. Highly qualified and recognized globally, our team of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical neuro-oncologists, neuro-pathologists, neuro-radiologists, and neuro-ophthalmologists are dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient and family-centered care, and to developing innovative new treatments. Our services also include patient rehabilitation, counseling, pain management and support.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly experienced teams include:

• Access to doctors and surgeons who rank among the top brain and spinal cord tumor experts in the world.
• Weekly review of challenging patient cases by the Adult Brain Tumor Conference which includes experts from each specialty treating brain tumors.
• Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
• Access to a nurse navigator to assist you throughout the treatment process.
• Availability of new treatment options for brain tumors and neurological cancers within our clinical trials program.
• Access to the Brain and Spine Tumor Support Group at Winship where you and your caregivers can learn about current therapies and share your experiences.

Even a benign brain tumor can be dangerous. As a tumor grows, it compresses normal tissues causing malfunction, inflammation and swelling of the brain and spinal cord. It is therefore important that symptomatic benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors be treated as early as possible.

Brain and spinal cord tumors are diagnosed in various ways including:

Physical and neurologic exam: a physician checks general health, mental status, power, sensation, reflexes and coordination.

Imaging: CT scans, MRI scans, myelogram (used to detect a tumor in the spinal cord) and/or angiogram (used to assess tumor related blood vessels).

Biopsy: a sample of tissue is removed for examination. A biopsy is the only sure way to diagnose a brain tumor.

Investigational Imaging: Earlier detection of tumor growth or useful response to therapy are the goals of new imaging methods including magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, and new tracers for positron emission tomography. All of these are being fostered at Emory and are offered whenever possible to patients with nervous system tumors to assist in the development of these technologies.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.