Brain Tumor

Smilow Cancer Hospital has state-of-the-art technology to diagnose brain tumors with accuracy, including a 3 Tesla MRI, functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, and positron emission tomography. Experienced neuroradiologists read all scans and evaluate the images for diagnosis. In addition, we have two board-certified neuropathologists with special expertise in the morphologic and molecular diagnosis of brain tumors. Their expertise is commonly sought for second opinions from other institutions.

Chemotherapy is often recommended following surgical removal of a brain tumor to prevent the disease from returning or to delay its return. Chemotherapy is also prescribed to treat patients with advanced or metastatic disease. Our medical oncology team provides experience and knowledge of innovative treatment options and investigational therapies for brain tumors. Yale Cancer Center is a major national research center for the development of novel therapies for brain tumors and brain metastases and provides our patients with access to the newest therapies available through clinical trials. New initiatives are focused on use of the immune system to treat cancer, building on the history of immunotherapeutic clinical trials at our center. Another focus of our research program is the development of nanoparticles for improved drug delivery in patients with glioblastoma. New efforts to develop a personalized treatment program for glioblastoma patients based on the molecular ‘fingerprint’ of their tumor are also underway. In addition, we are offering clinical trials for patients with primary CNS lymphoma, brain metastases, and radiation necrosis. Access our current list of clinical trials: yalecancercenter.org/braintrials

Yale Neurosurgical Oncology provides one of the most experienced teams of dedicated specialists in the United States. In collaboration with Yale New Haven Hospital, our multidisciplinary approach to the surgical management of brain tumors enables us to offer surgical expertise for any brain tumor patient. Our primary surgical goal is to remove as much of the tumor as possible, while preserving our patient’s functional status with safety and precision. To achieve this goal, Yale Neurosurgical Oncology utilizes technology in an operative theater that is unrivaled in the area. 

Smilow Cancer Hospital has one of the most experienced intra-operative MRI teams in the world. The use of a high-resolution 3 Tesla MRI with unparalleled anatomical resolution throughout surgery enables our surgeons to closely monitor the removal of a tumor and to confirm during the operation that the goals of surgery have been achieved. Smilow’s unique intraoperative angiography capabilities allow surgeons to decrease blood supply to the tumor making surgery safer. 

Our surgeons also achieve precision and accuracy through the use of a stereotactic guidance system that utilizes the patient’s unique facial features for individualized surgical care for each tumor, regardless of its location. Yale Neurosurgical Oncology pioneered the use of brain mapping during surgery to protect critical language and motor function. “Awake” surgery has been performed at Yale since the early 1980s with unparalleled experience. This type of surgery is reserved for select patients with tumors located in high functioning parts of the brain. The use of specialized neuroanesthesia allows the surgeon to interact with the patient during the procedure in an effort to increase tumor resection while preserving critical function. 

Our surgeons are also leading the way to identify the genetic causes of brain tumors and to develop the novel therapies that will lead to a cure. Each brain tumor removed at Smilow Cancer Hospital is examined to define its genomic abnormalities. Multidisciplinary experts discuss the results of the genomic analyses during our weekly Precision Medicine Tumor Board and make individualized patient-specific treatment recommendations that can lead to better outcomes for each of our patients. 

Lastly, Yale Neurosurgical Oncology is one of the first groups nationally to offer a novel minimally invasive treatment for brain tumors known as Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT). Through a small scalp incision, a laser fiber is placed into the center of a brain tumor and then heat treatment of the tumor is performed under continual MRI guidance. Patients treated with this technique can often be sent home the day after surgery with minimal discomfort and almost no interruption of their other ongoing cancer treatments.

Established as one of the original Radiation Oncology departments in the country in 1958, the Yale Department of Therapeutic Radiology has played a foundational role in the national development of radiotherapy as cancer treatment. Building on this long tradition of excellence, we provide specialized and innovative radiotherapy through a multitude of scientific and translational research endeavors. For our patients with brain tumors, we have the capability to deliver radiation therapy using multiple cutting-edge platforms, such as the Novalis Tx linear accelerator with BrainLab/ExacTrac guidance, the Gamma Knife Perfexion, and the Cyberknife. In particular, our Gamma Knife program is regarded as a national leader in the treatment of primary and metastatic tumors. In addition to multi-institutional clinical trials, we offer unique bench to bedside clinical trials for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. One such example is a clinical trial investigating Mibefradil Dihydrochloride in combination with re-irradiation for patients in whom glioblastoma multiforme has returned after standard therapy. This trial embodies the spirit of innovation and patient care we provide for our patients in need of radiation treatment.