The Brain Tumor Center at Mischer Neuroscience Institute specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the brain and spine. Our fellowship-trained team of neurological specialists are dedicated to combining their clinical expertise and the latest technology with compassionate care to bring hope for patients who face the challenges of life after a brain tumor or spine tumor diagnosis.
The medical team at the Brain Tumor Center includes specialists from multiple disciplines – including oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology and genetic counseling.
This team-based, multidisciplinary approach means that each of our patients benefits from a broad range of expertise, the newest therapies, access to groundbreaking clinical trials and the highest quality services and outcomes across the continuum of care. We provide a comprehensive range of treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
The medical team at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute is highly skilled in treating a wide range of primary and metastatic tumors, from simple to the most complex of cases, including:
Diagnosis of a brain tumor typically begins with a neurological examination. A review of the patient's medical history and a physical exam is performed when a patient complains of symptoms that suggest a brain tumor. The neurological exam is also performed which includes examination of eye movements, hearing, muscle movement, balance, coordination, sense of smell, etc.
Once initial evaluations are completed, patients may undergo neuroimaging such as an MRI, CT and/or PET scan. Your neurologist may also suggest a biopsy in which a small sample of tissue is surgically removed from the suspected tumor and examined under a microscope for malignance. The results of the biopsy also provide information on the brain tumor cancer cell type.
The technologically advanced instrumentation available at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center allows for the prognosis, diagnosis and removal of difficult tumors:
In 1993, the Mischer Neuroscience Institute acquired the region’s first Leksell Gamma Knife®, a stereotactic radiosurgery instrument that resolves brain tumors and other neurological disorders without a traditional “open” surgery. To date, our team has treated more than 3,500 patients using the next generation of this ground-breaking, minimally invasive tool called the Gamma Knife® Perfexion.
Other novel technologies available at the Brain Tumor Center include diffusion tensor imaging, which is an exciting new way to map major brain connection pathways in conjunction with functional MRI and MEG imaging tests.
The neurosurgical team has extensive experience and routinely employs the most innovative procedures to diagnose and treat brain tumors, including:
Brain tumors in children are often very different from those in adults, in cell type, presentation and responsiveness to treatment. Because a child’s brain is still developing, it is important for a child or adolescent to receive diagnosis and treatment from a physician team specializing in pediatric brain tumors. The Brain Tumor Center’s team works closely with the Children’s Memorial Hermann Neuroscience Center to ensure exceptional care for children with brain tumors.
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