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Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors

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Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors

Cancer care can be complex. Augusta University Health focuses on the highly specialized care from the region's only multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to treating patients with brain and spinal tumors.

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The Brain Tumor Program offers the expertise of a highly-skilled multidisciplinary team that specializes in treating patients with benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors.

The Brain Tumor Program offers the expertise of a highly-skilled multidisciplinary team that specializes in treating patients with benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors.

Our Approach

Georgia Cancer Center Brain Tumor Program

Our team uses advanced knowledge and experience, sophisticated technology, procedures, and cancer therapies to treat complex brain, head, neck, and central nervous system cancers. The Brain Tumor Program strives to prolong and improve quality of life for patients with all types of that affected the nervous system, including glioblastomas, gliomas, spinal tumors, metastatic tumors, and head and neck tumors.

  • Multidisciplinary team: The team is comprised of fellowship-trained specialists in neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, neuroradiology, neuropathology, otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, neuro-ophthalmology and medical oncology. These specialists work together to coordinate care, often seeing patients on the same day.
  • Advanced technology: We utilize the latest treatment tools, including Gamma Knife Perfexion with Extend technology, to treat brain tumors located in complicated areas of the nervous system.
  • Tumor board: The brain tumor board meets weekly to provide recommendations for diagnosis and treatment and screening for clinical trials. Medical specialists from around the region are encouraged to present challenging cases at brain tumor board by calling 706-721-2505.
  • Compassionate care:Clinical care is patient and family-centered. Dedicated resources are available to provide support to patients and their families. A nurse navigator guides patients through all the steps of treatment and throughout the healing phase of their recovery.

Services

  • Neuro-oncology Clinic: A joint clinic with neurosurgery and neuro-oncology that focuses on brain and spine tumors of all types (see cancers we treat). Visits for second opinions about treatment plans are available to any patient.
  • Brain Tumor Resource Guide: Download the comprehensive guide which outlines all the steps of your treatment and care at Georgia Cancer Center.

  • Teleneuro-oncology: For patients who live far away from Augusta University Medical Center, we offer virtual visits that can include ongoing management or treatment advice. These appointments are scheduled the same as in-person appointments. Call 706-721-6744.

  • Complex Brain Metastasis Clinic: A multidisciplinary clinic for patients with complicated issues involving spread of other cancers to the brain and spine.

  • Skull Base Tumors: Surgical specialists in neurosurgery, radiosurgery, and head and neck surgery have special interest and expertise in skull base tumors, including vestibular schwannoma, meningioma, chordoma, craniopharyngioma, and many others.

  • Pituitary Tumors: Our neurosurgeons are skilled in removing pituitary tumors, typically with an approach through the nose. Neuroendocrinology and neuro-oncology expertise is available, as is specialized radiation oncology treatmentswhen required.

  • Neurofibromatosis Clinic: This is a subspecialty clinic for patients of all ages who have neurofibromatosis type 1 or type 2, tuberous sclerosis, or von Hippel Lindau syndrome. These patients require care in a clinic with special expertise in these hereditary disorders.

  • Paraganglioma/Pheochromocytoma Clinic: The Paraganglioma/Pheochromocytoma Clinic (PGG-PCC) at Augusta University Health and Medical College of Georgia brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialists to help patients who have been diagnosed with tumors of the autonomic nervous system or who are concerned about the possibility of this diagnosis based on imaging, laboratory findings, genetic test results, or family history.

  • VHL Clinical Care Center: Von Hippel Lindau syndrome (VHL) is a rare hereditary cancer disorder in which tumors arise in the cerebellum, skull base, spinal cord, and kidneys, as well as other sites in the body. Diagnosis and management of patients with VHL is best conducted in a dedicated clinical center, such as the one based at the Georgia Cancer Center.

Clinical Trials

We conduct innovative clinical trials using medication approaches including immunotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent brain tumors.

A partial list of the tumors treated at the Brain Tumor Program includes:

  • Glioma: glioblastoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, ganglioglioma, subependymal giant cell astrocytoma.

  • Meningioma

  • Brain metastasis: metastases from any type of primary tumor outside the brain.

  • Leptomeningeal metastasis: spread of cancer into the spinal fluid.

  • Spinal metastasis: spread of cancer to the vertebral column, the spinal fluid, or rarely the spinal cord itself.

  • Pituitary region tumors: pituitary adenoma and other more rare forms of sellar-region tumors such as craniopharyngioma.

  • Skull base tumors: Vestibular schwannoma and other schwannomas, meningioma, chordoma, chondrosarcoma.

  • Abscess central nervous system
  • Acoustic neuroma
  • Anaplastic astrocytoma
  • Anaplastic ependymoma
  • Anaplastic meningioma
  • Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
  • Astrocytoma
  • ATRX
  • Benign neoplasm of brain
  • Brachial plexopathy
  • Brachial plexus lesion
  • Brain abscess
  • Brain neoplasms
  • Cerebellar tumor
  • Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
  • Cerebrospinal fluid abnormality
  • Chondrosarcoma
  • Choriocarcinoma
  • Choroid plexus papilloma
  • Choroid plexus tumor
  • CNS lymphoma
  • Craniopharyngioma
  • Diffuse astrocytoma
  • Diffuse leptomeningeal
  • Diffuse midline glioma
  • Dysplastic gangliocytoma
  • Ependymoma
  • Epithelioid glioblastoma
  • Ganglioglioma
  • Ganglioneuroblastoma
  • Ganglioneurocytoma
  • Germ cell tumor
  • Germinoma
  • Glioblastoma
  • Glioma
  • Gliomatosis cerebri
  • Glomus jugulare
  • Glomus tympanicum
  • Glomus vagale
  • Hemangioblastoma
  • Hemangiopericytoma
  • K27M
  • Hypothalamic hamartoma
  • IDH
  • JC Virus
  • Langerhans cell histiocytosis
  • Leptomeningeal metastasis
  • Lhermitte-Duclos
  • Lumbosacral plexus lesion
  • Lymphocytic hypophysitis
  • Malignant brain neoplasm
  • Malignant neoplasm of brain stem
  • Malignant neoplasm of cerebellum
  • Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobe
  • Malignant neoplasm spinal cord
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Medullaepithelioma
  • Melanotic schwannoma
  • Meningioma
  • Meningitis
  • Metastatic brain cancer
  • Metastasis
  • Myxopapillary ependymoma
  • Neoplasm Of Brain Stem
  • Nerve sheath tumor
  • Neurocysticercosis
  • Neuroendocrine tumor
  • Neurofibroma
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Neurosarcoidosis
  • Olfactory neuroblastoma
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Optic nerve glioma
  • Optic pathway glioma
  • Paraganglioma
  • Paraneoplastic neuropathy
  • Periventricular mass
  • Personal history of malignant neoplasm of brain
  • Petrous apex tumor
  • Pilocytic astrocytoma
  • Pineal tumor
  • Pineoblastoma
  • Pituicytoma
  • Pituitary adenoma
  • Pituitary tumor
  • Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma
  • Plexiform neurofibroma
  • Primitive neuronal component
  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
  • Prolactinoma
  • Pseudotumor cerebri
  • Rathke's cleft cyst
  • RELA
  • Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor
  • Schwannoma
  • Schwannomatosis
  • SHH
  • Solitary fibrous tumor
  • Spinal cord diseases
  • Spinal cord compression
  • Spinal tumor
  • Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma
  • Subependymoma
  • Temporal tumor
  • TP53
  • Tuberous sclerosis
  • Vertebral metastasis
  • Vestibular schwannoma
  • Von Hipple Lindau
  • WNT
  • 1p/19q

Brain Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of brain cancer vary depending on the size and location of the tumor, but may include:

  • New, persistent headache

  • Fatigue

  • Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs

  • Speech and coordination issues

  • New onset visual problems

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Seizures, especially if new

  • Neuro-oncology for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and precision medicine treatments

  • Management of related issues such as seizures and medications

  • Neurosurgical biopsy for diagnosis

  • Neurosurgical resection for treatment

  • Radiation oncology for standard radiation treatments

  • Radiation oncology and neurosurgery for radiosurgery treatments, including Gamma Knife

We are committed to seeing each patient as soon as possible, often with 1 to 2 days (even the same day) in urgent situations. The main brain tumor clinic operates on Thursday.

Brain Tumor Resource Guide

Everything you need to know about the Brain Tumor Program at Georgia Cancer Center. 

Request an Appointment

For patients or a patient's family member, please contact: 706-721-7644.

Referrals

For physicians wanting to refer a patient, call us:
706-446-5190, or fill out a referral form
.

Prepare for Your Appointment

For your first appointment, please bring your:

  • Picture ID and insurance information

Brain Tumor Support Group

All those affected by brain tumors are welcome to join us. Family, friends, and loved ones are welcome to attend as well. Educational materials, resources, and other important information will be shared at each meeting. The meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. in room AN-1305 of the Georgia Cancer Center Outpatient Services – Laney Walker clinic. If you are interested in attending, or have questions, you can contact Jacey Salley by calling 706-721-2505 or via email at jsalley@augusta.edu.

 

Our Providers

Augusta University Medical Center specialists provide care and support throughout your entire healthcare journey.

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