What causes brain tumors?

St. Luke’s Health’s multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, and staff partners with patients and their families to ensure a personalized approach to care using breakthrough research and collaboration. Brain and spine tumors deserve expert treatment performed by leading specialists, and our team treats all forms of benign and malignant tumors with a full range of surgical and non-surgical options.
 
Types of tumors we treat include:

• Acoustic neuromas
• Brain metastases
• Gliomas (such as astrocytomas and glioblastomas)
• Meningiomas
• Pituitary adenomas
• Skull base tumors

What are the common symptoms of brain and spine tumors?

Common symptoms of brain and spine tumors can include:

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Changes in vision or hearing
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
• Problems with balance or coordination
• Personality or behavior changes

However, it's important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions, so it's crucial to seek medical attention from a St. Luke's Health neurologist if you're experiencing any of them.

How do you diagnose a brain or spine tumor?

The diagnosis of a brain or spine tumor typically involves several steps.

1. First, a doctor will typically perform a physical exam and ask about the patient's medical history and symptoms.
2. Next, imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans may be used to create detailed images of the brain or spine to look for any abnormalities or growths.
3. If an abnormality is found, a biopsy may be performed to take a sample of the tissue and examine it under a microscope to determine if it is cancerous or non-cancerous.
4. Further tests may also be done to determine the type and stage of the tumor, which can help guide treatment decisions.

It's important to note that the diagnosis of a brain or spine tumor should be made by a qualified health care professional, like a St. Luke's Health neurologist, and that the process may vary depending on the individual case.

Surgical treatment options for brain tumors

Our neurosurgeons are trained in some of the most advanced surgical techniques and tailor treatment plans specific to each patient. Whenever possible, we perform the most minimally invasive surgery option available. Our team employs preoperative and intraoperative brain mapping and advanced neuroimaging techniques to improve safety, precision, and outcomes. 
 
We perform the following procedures and more:

• Awake craniotomy
• Laser ablation
• Microsurgery
• Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery
• Skull base surgery
• Stereotactic radiosurgery

Treating brain and spine tumors without a single incision

St. Luke’s Health was the first in Houston to use CyberKnife® technology to perform stereotactic radiosurgery in a clinical setting for the treatment of intracranial tumors and the first in Montgomery County to use Gamma Knife® technology—and our team continues to offer hope to patients who have surgically complex tumors. 

A non-invasive alternative to surgery for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, targeted radiation therapy using CyberKnife® and Gamma Knife® tracks, detects, and corrects for motion to administer precise radiation dose therapy. The non-surgical treatment requires no anesthesia and is painless. This technology is used to treat many tumors and lesions that may have been previously considered inoperable or untreatable, including those in the brain and spine. 

Benefits of targeted radiation therapy include:

• No incisions
• No pain
• No required anesthesia
• No recovery time—you may return to work following treatment unless your condition requires overnight observation
• No painful head frame bolted to skull
• Pinpoint accuracy