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Stanford Brain and Spine Tumor Center
Part of Neuroscience
Leaders in Spine and Brain Tumor Treatment
Receiving a spine or brain tumor diagnosis can feel overwhelming, even if it’s noncancerous. Our world-class experts have specialized training and experience in treating even the most complex spine and brain tumors. You receive personalized, compassionate care with treatments that use the latest advancements for the best possible results.
What We Offer You for Brain and Spine Tumor Care
- Specialized expertise in treating all types of cancerous and noncancerous spine and brain tumors, from common to rare and complex. Go to Conditions Treated
- Advanced treatment options including noninvasive CyberKnife radiation, minimally invasive surgical procedures, and targeted therapies. Go to Treatments
- Clinical trials to identify new personalized treatment options and improve existing techniques such as combining surgery and CyberKnife. Go to Clinical Trials
- Team-based approach that brings together specialists from multiple fields and weekly Tumor Board meetings to tailor treatment to your needs. Go to Your Care Team
- Comprehensive support services including educational workshops, fitness classes, and support groups to help you get back to living your life. Go to Support Services
- Ease of access with dedicated nurse coordinators who will partner with you and your family and guide you through each step of your care. Go to Accessing Care
Each member of our world-class team has specialized training in diagnosing and treating spine and brain tumors to deliver the expertise and care you need most.
We lead the way in translating discoveries into the latest diagnostic and treatment options. Our research and clinical trials have opened doors to technologies and techniques that are changing and saving lives around the world.
Our highly trained neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, neuroradiologists, radiation oncologists, neuropathologists, and medical physicists come together to surround you with expert care. They effectively treat all types of spine and brain tumors, including those that other health centers consider too challenging.
Primary Tumors
Metastatic Tumors
Spine Tumors
Our team offers a variety of treatment options for primary brain tumors, which are tumors that begin growing in the brain.
- Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)
- Glioma (typically cancerous tumor that starts in the glial cells of the brain or spinal cord), including astrocytoma, ependymoma, ganglioglioma, and oligodendroglioma
- Glioblastoma (cancerous brain or spine tumor)
- Meningioma
- Pituitary tumors
- Craniopharyngioma (noncancerous brain tumor)
- Cushing's syndrome
- Pituitary adenoma (noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland)
- Rare tumors:
- Chordoma (cancerous tumor that grows in bones along the spine or at the base of the skull)
- Gangliocytoma (noncancerous brain or spinal cord tumor made up of nerve cells)
- Hemangioblastoma (noncancerous tumor in blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord)
- Medulloblastoma (PNET; cancerous brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain)
- Neurocytoma (typically noncancerous brain tumor)
Metastatic, or secondary, brain tumors are cancer cells that have spread (metastasized) to the brain from elsewhere in the body. Learn more about metastatic brain tumors and our treatment options.
Our team offers treatment options for spine tumors. These tumors begin growing in the spinal cord, the backbone, or where nerves attach to the spinal cord.
- Cancers of the blood
- Leukemia (cancer in the bone marrow and blood)
- Lymphoma (cancer in the lymph nodes)
- Myeloma (cancer in plasma cells, a type of white blood cells)
- Chordoma (cancerous bone tumor that can occur anywhere along the spine or at the base of the skull)
- Glioma (typically cancerous tumor that starts in the glial cells of the brain or spinal cord), including astrocytoma, ependymoma, ganglioglioma, and oligodendroglioma
- Glioblastoma (cancerous brain or spine tumor)
- Meningioma
- Schwannoma (tumor in the tissue that covers spinal nerves)
- Rare tumors:
- Chordoma (cancerous tumor that grows in bones along the spine or at the base of the skull)
- Gangliocytoma (noncancerous tumor in the brain or spinal cord made up of nerve cells)
- Hemangioblastoma (noncancerous tumor in blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord)
Our team offers a variety of treatment options for primary brain tumors, which are tumors that begin growing in the brain.
- Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)
- Glioma (typically cancerous tumor that starts in the glial cells of the brain or spinal cord), including astrocytoma, ependymoma, ganglioglioma, and oligodendroglioma
- Glioblastoma (cancerous brain or spine tumor)
- Meningioma
- Pituitary tumors
- Craniopharyngioma (noncancerous brain tumor)
- Cushing's syndrome
- Pituitary adenoma (noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland)
- Rare tumors:
- Chordoma (cancerous tumor that grows in bones along the spine or at the base of the skull)
- Gangliocytoma (noncancerous brain or spinal cord tumor made up of nerve cells)
- Hemangioblastoma (noncancerous tumor in blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord)
- Medulloblastoma (PNET; cancerous brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain)
- Neurocytoma (typically noncancerous brain tumor)
close Primary Tumors
Metastatic, or secondary, brain tumors are cancer cells that have spread (metastasized) to the brain from elsewhere in the body. Learn more about metastatic brain tumors and our treatment options.
close Metastatic Tumors
Our team offers treatment options for spine tumors. These tumors begin growing in the spinal cord, the backbone, or where nerves attach to the spinal cord.
- Cancers of the blood
- Leukemia (cancer in the bone marrow and blood)
- Lymphoma (cancer in the lymph nodes)
- Myeloma (cancer in plasma cells, a type of white blood cells)
- Chordoma (cancerous bone tumor that can occur anywhere along the spine or at the base of the skull)
- Glioma (typically cancerous tumor that starts in the glial cells of the brain or spinal cord), including astrocytoma, ependymoma, ganglioglioma, and oligodendroglioma
- Glioblastoma (cancerous brain or spine tumor)
- Meningioma
- Schwannoma (tumor in the tissue that covers spinal nerves)
- Rare tumors:
- Chordoma (cancerous tumor that grows in bones along the spine or at the base of the skull)
- Gangliocytoma (noncancerous tumor in the brain or spinal cord made up of nerve cells)
- Hemangioblastoma (noncancerous tumor in blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord)
close Spine Tumors
We combine expertise, advanced technology, and a patient-centered approach to develop personalized treatment plans. Working closely with you, we review all treatment options together to determine the right plan for you.
We bring together experts from multiple medical fields to review each case at weekly Tumor Board meetings. You receive specialized care you can trust, from a compassionate team who understands your needs.
INNOVATION HIGHLIGHTS
- Stanford neurosurgeons invented CyberKnife in 1994. These discoveries revolutionized cancer care by reducing treatment time and treating tumors that were considered inoperable. More recently, our doctors have led the way in expanding use of CyberKnife to noncancerous tumors and other conditions.
- We conduct ongoing clinical research in promising areas and partner with innovative medical device manufacturers to bring the latest, life-changing technologies to you first.
Surgery and CyberKnife
Surgery is usually the first treatment for many brain and spine tumors, both noncancerous and cancerous. For many tumors, CyberKnife radiosurgery — a noninvasive, robotic delivery system for radiation therapy — offers another initial treatment option. Our neurosurgeons are nationally recognized experts in the latest minimally invasive and advanced techniques, even for the most complex cases. We will help you determine the best treatment for your needs.
We successfully treat a high volume of patients, giving us the extensive experience you need for the best care possible. We use the latest technology for treatment planning and mid-surgery monitoring to safely remove as much of the tumor as possible while avoiding critical brain structures, including those used for language, motor, and sensory function.
Surgery for Primary Brain Tumors
Our neurosurgeons deliver the highest level of expertise in advanced minimally invasive and open surgical techniques to aggressively — but safely — remove tumors that begin growing in the brain.
Our neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists work together to offer the latest treatments and techniques for treating tumors in the pituitary gland. We safely remove as much of the tumor as possible while protecting nearby healthy tissue.
Our neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists partner to deliver the latest surgical techniques to treat acoustic neuromas, a noncancerous type of brain tumor. With your health and quality of life top of mind, we focus on preserving your hearing, balance, and facial nerve function.
The CyberKnife system provides an effective alternative to traditional surgery for treating cancerous and noncancerous tumors. The system uses computerized, real-time imaging to deliver the maximum safe dose of radiation from different angles, directly to the tumor or target tissue.
Additional Cancer Treatments
If you have a cancerous tumor, your care is in expert hands at Stanford. With comprehensive treatment options and leading expertise, our team of neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other specialists design the best care plan for you.
In addition to surgery and CyberKnife radiation therapy, we offer a full range of treatments to meet your unique needs:
Active Surveillance
If you have a slow-growing tumor, we may recommend monitoring it for signs that it may be worsening and need treatment. Your doctor works with you to determine how often and what type of testing you need.
Medications for Symptoms
To relieve your symptoms, your doctor may recommend medications such as:
- Anticonvulsants to reduce the risk of seizures
- Steroids to reduce swelling in your brain and spinal cord
Anticancer Drugs
Your doctor may recommend anticancer drugs, which serve different purposes in spine and brain tumor treatment. Some work to slow or stop the tumor growth and spread. Others stimulate the immune system to target and attack specific cancer cells. Your doctor will help you determine the right kind for you. Drug therapies for treating cancerous tumors include:
Tumor Genomic Profiling
For certain tumors such as brain metastases or glioblastomas, we analyze tumor cells for specific genetic markers that might respond to targeted therapies. We review the results with Stanford’s Molecular Tumor Board to determine the right treatment options for you.
Radiosurgery
We have expertise in delivering a range of radiation options that protect healthy tissue, including different types and doses to fit your preferences and lifestyle. We offer several treatment options for fast, effective, and precise maximum-dose radiation therapy in fewer office visits. We also treat the most complex, hardest-to-target brain tumors with specific, effective doses. Radiation options include:
- CyberKnife radisurgery targets tumors with high-precision, intense radiation to shrink them or keep them from growing.
- 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) uses 3D imaging to match the energy beams delivered from various angles to the exact shape of your tumor.
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy works similarly to 3D-CRT but allows your doctor to adjust the radiation dose of each beam to avoid healthy tissue.
Family Risk Management
If you have a family history of cancer, we offer expert genetic counseling and testing to learn more. Our services can identify gene mutations (changes) that may increase the risk of hereditary cancer. We help you and your family understand the results and guide you through important personal decisions.
Family risk management is a joint partnership between our Neurogenetic Oncology Program and Cancer Genetics Program. Learn more about our cancer risk assessment with genetic testing and counseling.
Clinical Trials
As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials. Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
Your Care Team
Our center brings together Stanford experts from multiple fields of medicine who offer important perspectives on brain and spine tumor care to each person we see. We work together in our weekly Tumor Board meetings, where our team of specialists reviews more complex cases and provides recommendations for treatment.
Your Doctors
Neurosurgeons
Neurosurgeons specialize in treating brain and spinal cord cancer through traditional (open) and minimally invasive surgery and CyberKnife radiosurgery, a noninvasive form of radiation therapy. Surgical oncologists perform biopsies (taking tiny tissue samples) to test for cancer. They also surgically remove tumors and surrounding tissue.
View All {0} Neurosurgeons »Neuro-Oncologists
Neuro-oncologists specialize in diagnosing and treating cancerous tumors of the brain and spinal cord. They treat these cancers using medications including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biologic therapy (targeted therapy and immunotherapy). Neuro-oncologists often serve as your main health care provider, coordinating your treatment among several specialists.
View All {0} Neuro-oncologists »
Radiation Oncologists
Radiation oncologists specialize in using high-energy X-rays and other radiation therapy such as CyberKnife to treat cancerous and noncancerous brain and spinal cord tumors. Radiation can destroy cancer cells and prevent them from spreading, and it can destroy noncancerous tumor tissue. Using advanced technologies, radiation oncologists can precisely target tumor cells to avoid damaging nearby healthy tissue.
View All {0} Radiation Oncologists »Interventional Neuroradiologist
Interventional Neuroradiologists use imaging studies like CT scans and MRIs to diagnose and treat conditions of the central nervous system, head, neck and spine.
View All {0} Interventional Neuroradiologists »Neurotologist
A Neurotologist is a type of Otolaryngologist (ENT) who provides medical and surgical care of patients with diseases that affect the ears, balance system, temporal bone, skull base, and related structures of the head and neck.
View All {0} Neurotologists »Rhinologist
A Rhinologist is a type of Otolaryngologist (ENT) who has unique expertise in the medical and surgical treatment of nasal and sinus disorders.
View All {0} Rhinologists »Neuroendocrinologist
Neuroendocrinologists diagnose and treat patients with diseases of the endocrine system. Our neurosurgeons partner with neuroendocrinologists to treat pituitary tumors.
View All {0} Neuroendocrinologists »Neuroradiologist
A neuroradiologist uses imaging studies like CT Scans and MRIs to diagnose conditions of the central nervous system, head, neck and spine. You may not meet your radiologist, since these doctors usually work behind the scenes to determine your diagnosis.
View All {0} Neuroradiologists »Neuro-Anesthesiologists
Neuro-anesthesiologists specialize in using medications to block pain, help you relax, or make you unconscious for spine and brain tumor procedures. Neuro-anesthesiologists also monitor your vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate during surgery. Depending on the type of surgery you are having, you may need local (small area), regional (larger area), or general (overall) anesthesia.
View All {0} Neuroanesthesiologists »Neuropathologist
Neuropathologists specialize in diagnosing conditions of the brain and nervous system through microscopic evaluation of tissue sampled during biopsy or surgery.
View All {0} Neuropathologists »Neurocritical Care Specialist
Neurointensivists specialize in the care of critically ill people with brain or spinal cord conditions, requiring additional care and close monitoring usually in a neurointensive care unit.
View All {0} Neurocritical Care Specialists »Stanford is an Academic Medical Center, which is a type of hospital setting where doctors teach the entire spectrum of medical education. Students range from beginning medical students to fully licensed and practicing doctors completing advanced sub-specialty training. Stanford Medicine is a partnership between Stanford University School of Medicine and Stanford Health Care. Since Stanford is a teaching hospital, you can expect to meet many providers and providers in training.
- Attending Physician: a doctor who supervises doctors in training or in medical school
- Fellow: a doctor doing postgraduate level work and specializing in care of patients with specific conditions
- Resident: a doctor who has graduated from medical school and is in training (also called “residency”) here at Stanford. A resident is also called an intern
- Medical Student: a student who is currently enrolled in medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor
Extended Care Team
Our oncology-certified health care providers work with your oncologist to help with diagnosis and treatment. APPs may recommend medications, lifestyle changes, and services such as genetic counseling. An APP can be a nurse practitioner (NP), physician’s assistant (PA), or clinical nurse specialist (CNS).
- Multidisciplinary care coordinators are registered nurses who provide one-on-one support throughout your care journey. They help you navigate from your first contact with us to follow-up care, assessing your needs, answering your questions, making referrals, coordinating appointments, and providing education.
- Neuro-oncology nurses are registered nurses with specialized training in care for people with brain and spinal cord tumors.
Our care coordinators provide you with information and assistance before and during your appointment.
- Medical Assistants take you to your exam room after you check in for your appointments. They check your vital signs before your doctor sees you.
- New Patient Coordinators contact you before your first appointment and help you prepare by providing the information you need to know and bring with you.
- Patient Access Representatives greet you at the front desk and register you for your appointments.
- ITA Schedulers schedule your appointments if you have apheresis (a specific type of blood transfusion) or chemotherapy.
- Surgery Schedulers call you to arrange the details for meeting with a surgical oncologist or reconstruction surgeon or the surgery.
CyberKnife coordinators serve as your single point of contact during treatment. CyberKnife patient coordinators work with you and your doctor to coordinate insurance authorization, determine clinical trials eligibility, and gather information before consultation. They also schedule your follow-up imaging and visit with your surgeon, and expedite appointments.
Our genetic counselors have specialized experience in cancer genetics, the study of genes and gene mutations, and how they affect a person’s risk of cancer. Not everyone may benefit from genetic testing. It is designed for people whose medical history shows the possibility of an inherited gene mutation.
Genetic counselors advise you and your family on identifying and managing any risk of inherited cancer. They work with you and your doctors to perform and review any genetic testing and help you understand the results.
- Occupational therapists are skilled practitioners who provide rehabilitation care to help you regain strength and functional ability during and after treatment for cancer. They help you with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, managing your medications, and driving.
- Physical therapists work with you and your family to recover your physical function after treatment, such as improving your:
- Strength, especially in the upper body
- Sensation, to relieve numbness in treated areas
- Range of motion, to reduce stiffness and pain
- Movement control, to improve endurance and reduce fatigue
If you qualify for a clinical trial, our research coordinators guide you through the process. They educate you about what to expect during the study, answer your questions, and schedule your appointments.
Support Services
Cancer Care Services
As part of your care, we design a personalized wellness plan to support your comfort before, during, and after treatment, and to help your family cope with the effects of having a loved one in cancer treatment.
With just one call to Cancer Care Services, you and your loved ones can speak with a specially trained nurse who can help assess your needs and connect you to the support services that are right for you. Contact Cancer Care Services for your personal support plan »
- Palliative Medicine
- Psycho-Oncology: Psychiatrists and Psychologists
- Sleep Clinic
- Spiritual Care
- Stanford Health Library
- Support Groups: Brain Tumors, Meningioma, Acoustic Neuroma
- Wigs and Cosmetic Support
When you come to Stanford’s Brain and Spine Tumor Center, you can often see several providers on the same day, in the same clinic. We offer on-site imaging in each of our three locations and two CyberKnife systems. Stanford is the only health center in the Bay Area with two active CyberKnife systems, providing faster access to treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
We participate in a wide range of insurance plans. View the list of insurance plans accepted by Stanford Health Care »
Have insurance or pre-authorization questions? The Patient Financial Clearance team is available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., to answer your questions. Please call 650-724-4445 or 1-877-291-7335 (toll free).
When choosing a doctor, it’s important to consider the doctor’s clinical training, experience and expertise in a specialized area that matches your health care needs.
You can find the right Stanford doctor for you by using our doctor directory and filtering the results based on a medical category, specialty, or doctor’s last name. View our list of our Brain and Spine Tumor doctors »
At Stanford, we take care of the details so that you can focus on your health and wellness. Our doctors work as a team with device nurses, advanced practice providers, registered dietitians, and imaging technologists to coordinate every aspect of your care. We also offer a wide range of support services to promote healing and improve your quality of life. Learn more about our support services »
You can call the clinic directly to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. Call 650-723-6469 to make an appointment.
Yes, Stanford Health Care offers financial assistance for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Meet with one of our financial counselors to find the best approach to paying for your health care. Financial counselors are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Learn more about financial assistance services »
Managing brain and spine tumor treatment is a highly personalized process. Our care team guides you every step of the way, including:
- What to expect and what to bring on the day of your appointment
- Maps, directions, parking, public transit options, and contact information
- Suggested questions to ask your doctor
For your first appointment, you should plan to bring any related test results and your medical history to share with your doctor. Our clinic receptionists will confirm the information you should bring with you prior to your first appointment.
You will also need to have the following information with you when you check in:
- Insurance card
- A form of payment for any co-pays or deductibles
- One form of photo ID:
- Valid state-issued driver’s license
- Valid state-issued ID card
- Valid passport
- Valid U.S. Military ID card
- Valid U.S. Permanent Resident Card
The Stanford Brain & Spine Tumor Center is located at the following address. Valet and self-parking options are available for a fee.
Please plan to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to your appointment time. This will allow you plenty of time to park, locate your clinic and complete any additional paperwork.
Directions and Parking information for the Brain and Spine Tumor Center:
Please print, fill out, and return the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care.
Always feel free to bring someone with you to your appointments. A family member or friend can help ask questions, remember the information your care team gives you, and provide support.
Write down your questions before your appointment and rank them in order of importance, beginning with the most important ones. If there isn’t enough time to have all your questions answered during your appointment, ask your doctor who you can speak with to get your other questions answered.
You have multiple options when it comes to paying your bill.
- Pay Online:
- You can log in to MyHealth or the MyHealth mobile app to see and pay your bill.
Already have an account but need help logging in?
Contact the MyHealth Help Desk
- You can also pay as a guest to pay your bill without logging in.
- Pay by mail:
- Stanford Health Care
P.O. Box 740715, Los Angeles, CA 90074-0715
Los Angeles, CA 90074-0715
- Stanford Health Care
- Pay by Phone:
- You can call our Patient Billing Customer Service Office
1-800-549-3720.
- You can call our Patient Billing Customer Service Office
For our latest business hours and for more information about billing, visit our Billing page.
At Stanford, we take care of the details so that you can focus on your health and wellness. Our doctors work as a team with nurses, advanced practice providers, registered dietitians, and technologists to coordinate every aspect of your care. We also offer a wide range of support services to promote healing and improve your quality of life. Learn more about our support services »
Please call our clinic receptionists at 650-723-6469. They are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to help you reschedule or cancel your appointment.
To determine if a clinical trial is right for you, talk to your doctor. He or she can refer you to a research coordinator for more information on studies that may be right for your specific condition.
You can also find the guidelines for who can participate in a particular clinical trial online. However, it is best to work with your doctor to decide the right care approach for your needs.
Many of our programs are available to international patients.
Our International Medicine Services team can help you find the right doctor, estimate medical costs, book travel, and get you information about Stanford programs and services.
Please call +1 650-723-8561 or email IMS@stanfordhealthcare.org to get started.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Phone: 1-866-742-4811
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
TRANSFER CENTER
Phone: 1-800-800-1551, 24 hours - 7 days a week
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as provides the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions visit Referring Physicians.
HOW TO REFER
To refer a patient and schedule an appointment, call either:
- The Cancer Center New Patient Coordinator at 650-736-7440
- The Neuroscience Clinic at 650-723-6469
Fax the patient referral form with any supporting documentation to 650-320-9443.