Brain & Spinal Tumors
Brain and spinal tumors are one of the most common tumors affecting children and adults. In children, they are usually tumors of the brain itself and some can be benign and others malignant. In adults, the most common type of brain tumor comes from other body systems in the form of brain metastases; or in other words, cancers from the lung, breasts, or prostate can go to the brain. Alternatively, brain tumors can be malignancies from the brain itself. These are called gliomas or they can be benign such as meningiomas and schwannomas.
As brain tumors grow, depending on their location, they can disrupt sensory, motor, and cognitive function and increase pressure within the brain or other areas of the central nervous system. Other symptoms associated with the tumor’s growth may include headache, facial numbness, double vision, and difficulty with speech, swallowing, and even breathing.
Spinal tumors may cause a wide range of symptoms depending on their location and type. Back and neck pain is the most common initial symptom. If the tumor begins to compress the spinal cord, it may result in neurological symptoms.
Albany Med Advantage
Albany Medical Center has the latest diagnostic equipment to care for patients with cancer. These include PET scanning, MRI, and functional imaging such as a 3T magnet that was recently acquired.
In terms of treatment, the Neurosciences Institute has a team of neurosurgeons and neurologists specially trained and dedicated to treating patients with brain and spinal tumors. Therapies may include radiosurgery, chemotherapy, or specialized microsurgery that is done with the latest minimally invasive techniques like endoscopy.
Albany Medical Center also has affiliations with hospitals in New York City in order to place patients in chemotherapy trials when traditional medications and therapies are ineffective.
