Brain Tumor Program | Diagnostics and Treatments
Sutter Neuroscience Institute
Diagnosing a Brain Tumor
Brain tumor symptoms vary patient to patient and these symptoms can also be found in people who do not have a brain tumor. This is why a medical work-up and imaging of the brain are very important when diagnosing a tumor.
"Our goal is to combine state of the art care with compassion to ensure the highest quality of life for our patients,"
Nora Wu, M.D., Neuro-oncologist
Symptoms
A doctor should be seen if the following symptoms appear:
- Frequent headaches
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of balance
- Loss of vision
- Changes in mood and personality
- Changes in ability to think, learn and speak
- Seizures
- Confusion or disorientation
- Weakness or paralysis in one part of the body
Diagnostics and Imaging
3D Angiography
Intraoperative EEG Monitoring
MR Spectroscopy
MRI/Functional MRI
Neuropathology Frozen Sections
PET CT
Spiral CT/CT Angiography
Tissue Banking
Video EEG Monitoring
Pathology
Brain tumor tissues taken by way of biopsy or neurosurgery are sent to a pathology lab for further examination. In this process, neuropathologists can identify the type of tumor the patient has, or verify the neurosurgeon’s diagnosis.
Treatments
Medical Oncology
Chemotherapy
Clinical Trials
Immunotherapy
Neurosurgery
Advanced Computer Navigation and Image Guided Techniques
Awake Brain Surgery, Motor Mapping and Speech Mapping
Endovascular Minimally Invasive Surgery
Electrocorticography
Frameless and Frame-Based Stereotaxy
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Intraoperative Neuro-Navigation
Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring
Stereotactic Biopsy
Radiation Therapy
Brachytherapy
Image Guided Radiation Therapy
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Image-guided Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Clinical Research Trials
Research can provide promising treatment options for patients with brain tumors. Whenever possible, our team works with the patient to research and coordinate care through clinical trials. If a patient is accepted into a clinical trial, our neuro-oncologist follows the patient’s care through every stage of treatment while remaining in close contact with the trial’s investigators, and the other brain tumor team members.
