Tumors

View the video created by UWTV following a patients journey through Brain Tumor Surgery. Link to video

The Department of Neurological Surgery performs over 550 tumor operations annually. Every type of central nervous system tumor is treated, including gliomas, astrocytomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, chondromas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas and esthesioneuroblastomas. This tumor practice is the largest in the Pacific Northwest and one of the largest in the US. Each hospital within the University of Washington system has the latest technology in diagnosing and treating tumors of the nervous system. For example, high-resolution MRI scanning, surgical imaging tools include intra-operative CT scanning, stereotactic biopsy frames (developed by Dr. Roberts), brain mapping and 3D frameless navigational systems. For those patients requiring radiation, Gamma Knife, LINAC and proton beam therapy is available. Clinical trials are also open to the many patients who qualify.

More importantly, tumor patients cared for by the UW are evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists, including neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, otolaryngologists, endocrinologists, neuropathologists and neuro-radiologists. Each patient’s case is reviewed by this team at our weekly tumor board meetings in order to determine the best treatment plan for each patient. For adult patients, the UW Neuro-oncology Center, directed by Drs. Silbergeld and Spence, coordinates patient care and treatment. Treatment planning and care coordination for pediatric patients occurs at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center’s Neuro-oncology Center, under the guidance of Drs. Ellenbogen and Geyer. Of note, Children’s Hospital is one of nine National Institutes of Health Children's Cancer Centers and the only one in the Pacific Northwest. Both the UW and Children’s are partners with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, forming the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

UW Neuro-oncology Center
http://depts.washington.edu/neuroonc/

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
http://www.fhcrc.org/patient/

For more information on nervous system tumors, please read the following primer:

Tumors that affect the nervous system may be located in and around the brain, skull, spinal cord, spine and peripheral nerves. These masses may cause a variety of symptoms including headache, pain, weakness, loss of sensation and weight loss. Alternatively, tumors may not cause any symptoms but are found during routine evaluation and physical examination.

There are two general types of tumors. Primary tumors originate from the tissue or cells in which they grow. For example, glioblastoma multiforme, a primary tumor of the brain, originates from the brain itself. Metastatic tumors, on the other hand, originate from tissue or cells in different areas in the body and spread, either through the blood, lymphatic fluid or direct invasion into other organs or tissues. An example of this is lung cancer spreading to the brain.

Similarly, the behavior of tumors can be classified into two different groups. Benign tumors consist of very slow growing cells, generally have distinct borders and rarely spread. When viewed microscopically, these cells have an almost normal appearance. Examples of benign tumors are pituitary adenomas and acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas). In contrast, a malignant brain tumor is generally life threatening, rapid growing and invasive. Other malignant tumors are invasive but grow more slowly. Examples of malignant tumors are medulloblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas. Malignant tumors are often called cancer.

Cancer is a disease described by the following characteristics:

1) unregulated growth of abnormal cells
2) invasion of local structures, thus interfering with normal function
3) spread to distant locations in the body

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Congenital Abnormalities | Epilepsy | Movement Disorders | Pain and Spasticity
Pediatrics | Peripheral Nerves | Radio Surgery and Radiotherapy
Spine | Stroke and Vascular Lesions | Trauma | Tumors

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