Brain, Spine and Skull Base Tumors

Harvey Sandler Center for Brain and Spine Tumors

When you’ve been diagnosed with a central nervous system tumor (CNS tumor), it’s important to find a team that fully understands your diagnosis and treatment. Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital has highly experienced neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists who are considered pioneers in their field. Some of our neurosurgeons have made groundbreaking treatment discoveries, led national clinical trials and held leadership roles at comprehensive cancer centers.

CNS tumors include tumors that form in the brain, skull base or spinal cord. At our Brain, Spine and Skull Base Tumor Center, we understand that these tumors are unique in every patient, which is why we take a personalized approach to your treatment. Whether it’s finding a new clinical trial or a creative way to manage symptoms, our goal is to help you live a healthy and full life.

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Which types of CNS tumors are treated at Marcus Neuroscience Institute?

Our neuro specialists treat all types of brain, spine and skull base tumors, including benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors. Some of the most common tumors we treat include:

• Acoustic neuromas
• Gliomas
• Meningiomas
• Pituitary adenomas
• Schwannomas

Our team also treats:

How do Marcus Neuroscience Institute experts diagnose CNS tumors?

With every new patient, we start with a complete exam that may include diagnostic and neurological testing. This process allows us to pinpoint your diagnosis and determine the best treatment approach for your condition.

We may ask you to undergo several diagnostic tests, including:

• MRI
• Functional MRI
• PET-MRI
• CT scan
• Spectroscopy
• Motor function recognition
• Language mapping
• Diffusion tractography

We may also take a tumor biopsy to diagnose the exact type of brain, spine or skull base tumor. This will allow us to develop a personalized and more effective treatment plan.

How are CNS tumors treated at Marcus Neuroscience Institute?

Our Brain, Spine and Skull Base Tumor Center works closely with neuro-oncologists at the Lynn Cancer Institute to provide comprehensive care for patients with CNS tumors. We take a team approach to every patient, which means experts from across neurology, neurosurgery and neuro-oncology will weigh in on your diagnosis and treatment. We also discuss complex cases at our multispecialty tumor board meetings.

Every treatment plan is different and we tailor therapy based on your specific tumor type. If your tumor is non-cancerous and doesn’t cause symptoms, we may decide not to treat the tumor right away and monitor it for changes.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor, or if a benign tumor starts to grow or cause symptoms, you may need treatment.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Neurosurgery, including awake craniotomy procedures, 4D endonasal surgery and en bloc tumor resection
• Radiosurgery, including the state-of-the-art CyberKnife® system
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

If you undergo neurosurgery to remove a tumor, Marcus Neuroscience Institute has access to the latest surgical tools and technology, including intraoperative MRI and intraoperative CT. The intraoperative imaging helps with accuracy. It also gives surgeons the ability to re-scan the surgical area to see whether the whole tumor has been removed, or if more surgery is needed to remove any remaining tumor. Our team includes a dedicated neuro-pathologist, who specializes in reading interoperative imaging results.

Our Approach

When you come to Marcus Neuroscience Institute for CNS tumor treatment, you can expect:

• Highly skilled neurosurgeons, neurologists and neuro-oncologists who have spent decades diagnosing and treating CNS tumors.
• A state-of-the-art facility complete with the latest diagnostic tools and treatment technology.
• A team that’s dedicated to finding a solution that helps you, whether it’s a new treatment or a better way to manage your symptoms.

Does every CNS tumor require surgery?

Every treatment plan is different and does not necessarily involve surgery. While we have some of the region’s most experienced neurosurgeons, we understand that surgery is not always the best option. Our team of specialists will collaborate on a treatment plan that fits your needs and diagnosis. You treatment plan may include monitoring, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, neurosurgery or radiosurgery.

What is the CyberKnife® procedure?

The CyberKnife® is a type of radiosurgery treatment that uses precise beams of radiation to destroy tissue or tumors. The CyberKnife® procedure is a painless and noninvasive therapy that can be used on benign or malignant tumors. The treatment can target hard-to-reach or inoperable tumors without needing to make incisions.

How do doctors collaborate on CNS tumor treatment at Marcus Neuroscience Institute?

We take a team approach to every case at Marcus Neuroscience Institute. That includes our weekly tumor board meetings, which we use to discuss CNS tumor cases and determine the best treatment option for patients with these tumors. This collaboration helps make sure patients are getting the best possible treatment option available.

What is endoscopic surgery for CNS tumors?

Our neurosurgeons work closely with ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists to provide 4D endoscopic surgery for brain and skull base tumors. These minimally invasive procedures are done with an endoscope, which is a small, flexible tube with a camera on the end. To reach the brain or skull base tumor, the surgeon inserts the scope and surgical instruments through small incisions in the skull or through the mouth or nose (endonasal). These treatments help avoid more invasive, open surgeries that use larger incisions.

Meet the team

Our team of experts includes neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, neurologists, neuro-pathologists, neuropsychologists, rehabilitation specialists, pain specialists and nurses who all specialize in caring for patients with CNS tumors. We also have two epileptologists on our team who help treat brain tumor patients who experience seizures.