Department of Neurosurgery

Mission & Goals
Neuro-Oncology Program

The Neuro-oncology program at West Virginia University offers patients with primary and secondary tumors of the brain and spine multi-disciplinary evaluations and innovative, specialized treatments. New patients are evaluated by our multi-disciplinary team consisting of the appropriate members from the departments of neurosurgery, neuropsychology, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, radiation-oncology, radiation physics, nursing, neuropathology and neuroradiology. After the initial evaluation the team discusses the patients clinical condition, diagnostic and treatment options during a multi-disciplinary neuro-oncology tumor board meeting.

The goal of the neuro-oncology program is to offer the patient prolonged survival while prioritizing the functional capabilities and quality of life of the patient and the family. Educational sessions and materials are presented of the patient and family in order to help them understand their clinical condition, relative risks and potential benefits of the various treatment options available to them. The are informed about the standard, investigational and experimental treatments that are available at West Virginia University and other treatment locations around the country. The neuro-oncology team hopes to optimize patient care by empowering the primary care physicians treating the patient to maintain an active and primary role in the patient's care. Extensive rehabilitation programs that are available address functional capabilities and quality of life issues. Neuropsychological evaluations are routinely performed in the multi-disciplinary clinic where functional problems are identified and treated by educating the patient and family members about cognitive rehabilitation programs available where compensatory strategies are developed to optimize quality of life. A similar multi-disciplinary group has been working to evaluate and treat pediatric patients with tumors of the brain and spine.