At the Gerald J. Glasser Brain Tumor Center, part of Atlantic Health System Neuroscience and Atlantic Health System Cancer Care, we treat brain tumors using individualized care plans that incorporate some of the safest and most advanced techniques available. These include cutting-edge surgical procedures, as well as conformal radiation, targeted therapy and chemotherapy, clinical therapeutic trials, palliative and supportive care, and comprehensive symptom management.
Brain Tumor Surgical Procedures
Our center treats brain tumors using a variety of minimally invasive strategies, the benefits of which include improved safety and patient outcomes, shorter hospital stays, and less blood loss and pain.
- CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery
- – CyberKnife is a safe, non-invasive technology that delivers highly-focused beams of radiation to target and destroy tumors within the brain, skull base and spinal column with minimal radiation exposure to the surrounding tissues.
- Image-guided, stereotactic volumetric craniotomy
- – Surgeons use an MRI-based 3D model of the patient’s brain – much like a GPS system – to safely remove as much of a tumor as possible. For patients with medical conditions that don't allow for surgery or those with concerns about the location of the tumor, a biopsy of this nature may be done in place of traditional surgery.
- Brain mapping and awake surgery
- – Sometimes tumors may be located in the eloquent parts of the brain, which are the areas responsible for movement, sensation and language. In these cases, surgery may be performed with the patient awake so that speech and motor functions can be monitored throughout the operation. This approach typically involves a team specializing in neuroanesthesiology, neuroradiology, neuropsychology and epilepsy.
- Minimally invasive endoscopic brain surgery
- – Using stereotactic image guidance and an endoscope, which is a small fiberoptic camera, surgeons can remove tumors deep within the ventricle, or center of the brain, via small incisions. This technique can also be used to treat obstructive hydrocephalus.
- Minimally invasive endoscopic pituitary and anterior skull base surgery
- – Endoscopic technology allows our surgeons to access tumors in the brain and skull base through the natural openings of the face, the most common of which is the nose. This requires no incisions and results in less pain, no brain retraction and better neurological outcomes. A team of specialists, including an otolaryngology specialist and a neurosurgeon, is usually needed.
- Traditional skull base surgery
- – With this type of microsurgery, an incision is made behind the hairline and the bone surrounding the skull base is removed so that the surgeon can access the affected area with minimal to no brain retraction. In some cases, minimally invasive techniques and an endoscope may be used, which allows for smaller incisions via the eyebrow or eyelid.
When Awake Brain Surgery is the Only Option
Brain Tumor Clinical Trials and Research
As a member of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cooperative Group System, our brain tumor center is able to provide our patients with access to the latest cutting-edge treatments. In addition, the Atlantic Center for Research is continually exploring the use of new chemotherapeutic and molecular targeted agents and other advanced techniques that may stop growth of primary and metastatic nervous system tumors. Learn more >
