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Brain and Spine Tumor Program
The Brain and Spine Tumor Program is a regional and national leader in the development of new techniques for diagnosing and treating brain, spine and spinal cord tumors. Patients from Milwaukee, southeastern Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest come to us for the most advanced care and treatment technology options.
Translational Brain Tumor Research ProgramSeveral Medical College of Wisconsin physicians and scientists have collaborated to create the Translational Brain Tumor Research Program. The goal of this program is to accelerate the movement of promising laboratory research to clinical use. The program is made possible in part by a large grant from the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment.
Members of the Translational Brain Tumor Research Program are focusing on several initiatives for improving patient care and outcomes:
- Perfusion imaging research. Perfusion MRI, which measures blood flow, provides information on the growth of blood vessels within tumors. Team members are studying how this imaging technology can be used to monitor the effectiveness of recently approved drugs that inhibit the development of new tumor blood vessels.
- Diffusion imaging research. Diffusion imaging technology measures the movement of water within tissue. Members of the Translational Brain Tumor Research Program are investigating how to use diffusion imaging to detect cancer cells that are missed by standard imaging techniques.
- Tumor tissue bank. By collecting and freezing brain tumor tissue samples, the program is developing a resource for studying the characteristics of individual tumors. The goals are to develop better insights into why tumors develop and spread and to design specific therapies for individual patients.
Innovative Software for Planning Safer Brain SurgeryResearchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin—including two members of the Brain and Spine Tumor Program—have developed a new software system that helps physicians plan safer tumor removal surgeries. The system is known as Prism®, and patients at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin were the first in the world to benefit from this new imaging tool.
Brain surgery can lead to complications such as paralysis or impeded speech. To reduce the risk of complications, physicians use a variety of diagnostic imaging technologies to map critical brain structures before surgery.
The Prism system enhances the surgical planning process by merging separate diagnostic images into a single unified view. By integrating the various imaging sources, Prism helps surgeons understand complex spatial relationships and more easily identify brain structures that need to be avoided. That helps them create surgical plans with the best chance of preserving brain function and patient ability.
Image-Guided Radiation TherapyMost patients with brain, spine or spinal cord cancer receive some form of radiation therapy. The Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center offers a wide array of image-guided technologies capable of delivering radiation to tightly delineated tumor targets:
- TomoTherapy® employs a unique spiral dose pattern and onboard scanning.
- “CT on rails” links a linear accelerator with a traditional CT scanner.
- Cone-beam CT provides three-dimensional tumor scans prior to treatment.
- Gamma Knife uses precise targeting to deliver high-dose therapy in a single session.
Most Spinal Cord Tumor Operations in StateTumors of the spinal cord are very rare, so it is important for spinal cord tumor patients to receive care from physicians who are experienced in treating these malignancies. Shekar Kurpad, MD, a Medical College of Wisconsin neurosurgeon, performs the most spinal cord tumor surgeries in the state — between 20 and 25 cases every year.
Spinal cord tumors are usually benign, but they can be malignant. Medical College of Wisconsin neurosurgeons use microsurgical techniques to operate on tumors that abut the spinal cord or are growing within the cord tissue itself. Special neurophysiological monitoring helps guide the tumor removal and guard the patient’s neurological function. Medical College of Wisconsin neurosurgeons perform the most spinal cord tumor surgeries in the state – between 20 and 25 cases each year.
Focus on Collective ExpertiseThe entire Brain and Spine Tumor Program team meets every week to discuss patients and monitor results. During these weekly Neuro-oncology Tumor Board meetings, surgeons, physicians, scientists and nurses use their collective expertise to develop individualized brain, spine and spinal cord tumor treatment plans. Group evaluation and planning can be especially important for patients who experience recurring cancer after receiving standard therapies. This approach ensures every option is considered for every patient.
Last Review Date: Oct 17, 2008 Online Editor(s): Tracey Brand |
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