Brain & Spine Tumor Program 

Home to two of the three fellowship-trained neurosurgical oncologists in the state of Pennsylvania, the Geisinger Brain & Spine Tumor Institute focuses on surgical precision and uses state-of-the-art technology, such as awake craniotomy, in patient care.

Geisinger neurosurgeons provide the full spectrum of state-of-the-art treatments of brain, spinal, and peripheral neurosurgical problems. Minimally invasive surgical techniques often can eliminate the need to perform traditional surgery.

Using the latest techniques, Geisinger neurosurgeons provide safe and effective treatments for many conditions thought to be inoperable just a few years ago. Above right, Geisinger's GE Lightspeed CT scanner delivers exceptional image quality with thin-slice imaging for precise tumor location and treatment.

Complete patient care is provided by medical and radiation oncology teams; neurosurgical physician assistants; speech, physical, and occupational therapy teams; nutritionists; rehabilitation specialists; neuroradiologists; intensive care specialists; neurologists; neuro-otologists; skull base otolaryngologists; social services, and pain control specialists.

Geisinger neurosurgeons perform more than 120 successful surgeries each year.

Diagnosis

Symptoms of Brain Tumors

• Persistent headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Speech problems, impaired vision, weakness in parts of the body, trouble walking, and general confusion

Symptoms of Spinal Cord Tumors

• Pain or numbness below a certain level on the body
• Weakness in both legs or all four limbs
• Difficulty in controlling bowel and/or bladder function

Below is a brief definition of the various types of brain and spine tumors.

Primary Brain Tumors
Primary brain tumors can be benign or malignant:

Benign tumors do not contain cancer cells:

• Benign tumors can usually be surgically removed, and they rarely grow back.
• Benign brain tumors can have an obvious border or edge. Cells from benign tumors seldomly invade the tissue around them and don't spread to other parts of the body. However, benign tumors can press on sensitive areas of the brain and cause serious health problems.
• Unlike benign tumors in most other parts of the body, benign brain tumors can be life threatening.
• Benign brain tumors can become malignant.

Malignant tumors (also called brain cancer) contain cancer cells:

• Malignant tumors are typically more serious and most often are life threatening.
• They tend to grow rapidly and invade the healthy tissue around them.
• Cancer cells from malignant brain tumors may break away the tumor and spread to other parts of the brain or to the spinal cord. They rarely spread to other parts of the body.
• Metastatic Brain Tumors are cancer that spreads to the brain from another part of the body and is different from a tumor that starts in the brain. Lung, breast, and kidney cancers, melanoma, and other types of cancer commonly spread to the brain.

For more detailed information about the different types of primary brain and spine tumors, visit the National Cancer Institute website.

Treatment

Awake Craniotomy
With the combined experience of our neurophysiologist, neurosurgeons, and neuroanesthesiologists, Geisinger is able to offer awake craniotomy, a type of brain surgery that minimizes the potential loss of motor control. Awake craniotomy is a cutting-edge treatment that allows the patient to remain awake in order to respond to questions during surgery. This procedure allows surgeons to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor in order to protect surrounding, healthy tissue.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Stereotactic radiosurgery is an advanced technology that allows delivery of very precise radiation therapy in high doses to the exact tumor location. The procedure can be used to shrink a tumor instead of surgical removal and as a follow-up to surgery to eliminate any tumor particles that remain after surgery.

Our Team

Physician Team Leaders:

• Steven Toms, MD, MPH, FACS, Neurosurgical Oncologist
• Michel Lacroix, M.D. FACS, FRCS(C), Neurosurgical Oncologist
• Tom Gergel, MD, Radiation Oncologist
• Rodrigo Erlich, MD, Medical Oncologist

The Geisinger Difference

Patients who receive the unexpected and overwhelming diagnosis of a brain tumor need to know that they have world-class experience and expertise on their side. Geisinger brings together an impressive group of physicians whose experience, compassion, and multidisciplinary practices offer reassurance to each patient they treat.

Geisinger’s physicians were trained at the world’s leading healthcare institutions, each of which is well known for its brain tumor treatments. As a result, Geisinger is often able to offer treatment for tumors considered inoperable. These physicians — surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, neurologists, and pathologists—meet weekly to determine the most effective treatment strategy for each individual patient. A multidisciplinary clinic allows the patient to see each member of the team during one visit and immediately receive a treatment plan.

At Geisinger, patients with brain tumors receive:

• Care from experienced specialists
• Cutting-edge technologies that aid in diagnosis and treatment
• Innovative clinical trials