Neuro-Oncology

Overview

The Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital cares for adult patients with tumors of the nervous system as well as neurologic complications of cancer.

Our multidisciplinary group of brain, spine and nerve cancer experts will develop and implement an integrated, care plan personalized for each patient. Depending on the stage and other characteristics of a patient’s cancer, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these therapies. Many clinical trials are also offered through our program.

In addition to our neurosurgeons, the staff at the Pappas Center includes:

• Neuropathologists
• Neuroradiologists
• Neuro-oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners
• Oncology psychiatrists, social workers and chaplains
• Oncology nutritionists
• Palliative care providers

Members of your care team meet regularly with you and your referring physician to ensure clear communication and seamless coordination of care.

Excellence in Surgical Care

Our surgeons have extensive experience treating brain tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding structures. Advanced surgical techniques include:

• Image-guided neurosurgery
• Intraoperative MRI and CT imaging
• Brachytherapy, radiotherapy implants placed at tumor margins to enhance tumor destruction
• Microsurgery, operating on tiny structures through a microscope, often used for cranial base tumors
• Endoscopic cranial base surgery, a noninvasive way to remove tumors through natural openings such as the nasal passages

A Full Range of Treatments

We offer the full spectrum of conventional care as well as promising new therapies to ensure patients get the best treatment possible. Available services include:

• Advanced imaging technologies (MRI, functional MRI, PET/CT scans) give surgeons a detailed view of the affected area
• Neuro-oncology for non-surgical treatment using chemotherapy, immunotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, and targeted therapies
• Advanced radiation therapies such as proton beam therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), intensity-modulation radiation therapy (IMRT), and 3-D conformal radiation
• Clinical trials that give patients access to experimental therapies and leading-edge treatment techniques.