A brain tumor diagnosis can be overwhelming and the Neurosurgery Department at Boston Medical Center is fully equipped to expertly diagnose and treat your condition in a comfortable and compassionate environment. Our staff is dedicated to your family's care.

Brain tumors, the growth of abnormal cells in the brain, can be quite complex. Our surgeons have extensive experience with their diagnosis and management and treatment is highly tailored to your individual history and situation. The most appropriate treatment plan will be decided upon through the participation and collaboration of patients, families, oncologists and other physicians involved in your care. Additionally, our advanced neurophysiologic monitoring capabilities allow our surgeons to accurately identify what is placing normal brain function at risk in the operating room, which gives us the rare opportunity to modify treatment strategy during procedures.

Meningiomas are one of the most common types of brain tumors, and while usually benign, they may be cancerous (malignant). These abnormalities develop in the meninges, the system of membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord. We also treat tumors that originate in the tissue of the brain itself, called the parenchyma. These include astrocytoma and glioblastoma (both tumors of the support cells of the brain), ependymomas (tumors of the lining of the brain's fluid-containing ventricles), medulloblastomas (tumors of the cerebellum), and pituitary tumors. We will develop a treatment strategy that is tailored to your unique circumstances.

For most brain tumors, a variety of treatment options are available. Cyberknife® radiosurgery, a new technology used to treat one or more tumors with powerful radiation beams while minimizing injury to surrounding brain tissue, is effective for many of our patients as a stand-alone therapy or as an adjunct to strategies such as chemotherapy and operative tumor resection through traditional open brain surgery (craniotomy). In some cases, the use of Cyberknife® radiosurgery can reduce the need for craniotomy for tumor treatment, offering an alternative with lower risk of treatment complications, which can be performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require hospital admission. Although every situation is different, and in some cases, open surgery may still be the recommended therapeutic path, our dedicated staff will guide you through the entire process.

We work closely with other physicians, departments and centers to coordinate the care of every brain tumor patient. Our close relationship with the Departments of Oncology and Radiation Oncology are critical in managing concurrent treatments such as chemotherapy -- intravenous (IV) delivery of liquid cancer-killing medicine -- as well as both Cyberknife® and conventional radiation therapy when those concurrent treatments are recommended. We are skilled at treating both children and adults, and our expertise ranges from benign tumors to metastatic cancer. You and your family can rest easy knowing we have your comfort and recovery as our highest priorities. Please do not hesitate to call on a member of our staff at any time.

Our Specialists

Dr. Emanuela Binello and Dr. James Holsapple specialize in brain tumors and meningiomas.

Departments and Programs Who Treat This Condition

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Neurosurgery

The Department of Neurosurgery at Boston Medical Center is a full- service clinical and academic program that provides advanced treatment for patients with a broad spectrum of dis…
department

Neuro-Oncology

Brain and spine tumors require a comprehensive approach tailored to your condition and needs. Our neurosurgeons who specialize in cancer care work with colleagues across the hospi…