Brain and Spinal Tumors
Overview
Brain tumors and spinal cord tumors are masses of abnormal cells that start in the central nervous system (CNS). These tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and may develop from any tissue or cell within the brain or spinal cord.
Tumors are generally classified and named based on the type of cell or area where they originate. For example, gliomas are a group of cancers that develop from glial cells in the brain, while meningiomas begin in the meninges, the thin layers that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Whether a tumor is cancerous or non-cancerous, it can cause serious health problems and may require specialized treatment. Primary brain and spinal cord tumors originate within the CNS, while cancers that begin elsewhere in the body, such as the breast or skin, can spread to the brain and are considered secondary (metastatic) tumors.
At Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, our multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive care for patients with brain and spinal tumors. We combine advanced diagnostics, specialized surgical and radiation techniques, innovative therapies, and access to clinical trials to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's diagnosis and needs.
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Meet Our Providers Who Treat Brain and Spinal Tumors
Our multidisciplinary teams bring together nationally recognized specialists, advanced diagnostics, and the latest therapies to design a treatment plan built around each patient's diagnosis, goals, and life.
Guides & Resources
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network is a trusted partner of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients provide prognostic and treatment information for major types of adult and some childhood cancers.
Conditions We Treat
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News on Brain and Spinal Tumors
Patient Spotlight
The little girl suddenly stopped walking and talking. How a terrifying diagnosis led to hope and healing.
“My child is a miracle, and it wouldn’t have happened without that team of doctors and the staff.”
Patient Spotlight
Ballerina dancing again after inspiring recovery from brain tumor
Emily Kneussle, a 20-year-old aspiring professional ballerina, was “born a dancer.” When a tumor in her brain threatened her dreams, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at…
Study to explore why some gliomas spread like cancerous tumors
Vanderbilt’s Michael Dewan, MD, MSCI, has received a grant from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to study why some low-grade gliomas, a type of non-cancerous brain or spine…
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