Tumors that affect the brain and spine may or may not cause symptoms. Sometimes, brain or spine tumors are discovered during testing for another condition or after an injury. Even when a tumor is not causing symptoms, it may need treatment or continued monitoring.
Initial evaluation
Your evaluation will begin with a detailed history and neurologic exam by a member of our neuro-oncology team. This helps us understand your symptoms and how the tumor may affect your brain or spinal function.
Imaging and diagnosis
We use imaging to provide important information about the type of tumor, its location, and options for treatment. Imaging will be performed of the brain, spine, or both, and usually involves a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan. During your appointment, a member of our care team will review your imaging with you, explaining what the images show and what your treatment path may look like.
Additional testing
In some cases, you may need further imaging, such as a positron emission tomography (PET) scan or testing for tumor cells or tumor DNA in your blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples, to gather more information about your tumor.