Brain & Spine Tumor Center

NYU Langone’s Brain and Spine Tumor Center, part of Perlmutter Cancer Center, has a longstanding reputation as a national and international leader in the treatment of brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, and skull base tumors in adults and children. Our experts also conduct clinical trials that investigate new treatments.

Excellence in Brain and Spine Tumor Treatment

For more than 50 years, our doctors have been leaders in the field of neuro-oncology, using the latest diagnostic and imaging technologies available to provide expert treatment for brain and spinal cord tumors.

As one of the nation’s premier neurosurgery programs, our surgical experience is unrivaled. Other physicians routinely refer patients who have the most complex brain and spinal cord conditions to our team of neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, and radiation oncologists, whose clinical skills are complemented by their deep commitment to compassionate patient care.

Types of Brain Tumors Treated

Our neuro-oncologists and radiation oncologists provide expert treatment for all types of brain tumors, including astrocytoma and glioma, pituitary adenoma, primary central nervous system lymphoma, and metastatic brain tumors. They also treat people with less common types of brain tumors, such as craniopharyngioma, hemangioblastoma, medulloblastoma, ependymomas, and pineal region tumors.

Our neurosurgeons are known for their ability to manage complex surgery and treatment for people who have conditions such as meningioma and acoustic neuroma, as well as tumors located in critical areas of the brain related to speech and understanding.

Brain Tumor Treatments

Information about each patient is presented before our neuro-oncology tumor group, which is a team of adult or pediatric cancer specialists. They discuss your diagnosis and create the best treatment strategy. If radiation therapy or other medical interventions are recommended, our doctors guide you through treatment. Sometimes, watchful waiting is the recommended approach, and our medical team monitors you for any changes in the tumor.

If you need surgery, our neurosurgical and neuroradiology experts work together to ensure that the maximum amount of tumor is removed as safely as possible. During surgery, our neurosurgeons work side-by-side with neuropathologists, who provide real-time analysis of the tumor. We test the tumor for certain biomarkers that can help us determine the type and which treatment is likely to work best, be it surgical removal, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Our neuropathologists provide rapid, state-of-the art molecular analysis, including methylation array analysis, which allows us to make the most accurate diagnosis by identifying the tumor’s molecular subtype. The more we understand about the tumor, the better we can manage it. The advanced neuropathology technology available at NYU Langone gives us the information that makes that possible.

Our neuro-oncologists and neurologists can help you manage symptoms related to a brain tumor or treatment. These may include seizures, neurological disabilities, and the side effects of chemotherapy. At NYU Langone, our technologically advanced diagnostic MRI facilities can help us monitor the progress of treatment. In addition, NYU Langone offers rehabilitation services through Rusk Rehabilitation that are designed to help restore neurological function for people with brain or spinal cord tumors.

We have a number of clinical trials that our patients can participate in. These include clinical trials for different types of immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and targeted and conventional chemotherapy. Our neuro-oncology research laboratories are actively researching the causes of and new therapeutic approaches for several types of brain cancer affecting adults and children.

We offer a host of supportive services, including support groups and counseling, rehabilitation, and integrative health treatments for adults at Perlmutter Cancer Center and for children at NYU Langone’s Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Social workers are also available to provide additional support and assistance.

Make an Appointment

We value the opportunity to offer you a thoughtful initial consultation—or second opinion—to ensure that your neuro-oncologic needs have been fully assessed and addressed.

To make an appointment for an adult patient, please call 212-263-2950 for a neurosurgeon or 212-731-6267 for a neuro-oncologist. To make an appointment for a child, please call 212-263-9907.