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UC Irvine Medical Center has the only comprehensive brain tumor program in Orange County and it is one out of three such programs in Southern California. The world-class multidisciplinary team enlists the advanced clinical expertise of specialists in medical neuro-oncology, surgical neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, neuropathology, psychology and psychiatry.

Medical Neuro-Oncology

Fellowship trained medical neuro-oncologists provide comprehensive evaluation and medical care for brain tumor patients. Whether the problem is seizures, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive difficulties — or the need for chemotherapy, radiation therapy or experimental therapy — medical neuro-oncologists are trained and experienced in tailoring optimal individual treatment plans for each patient.

Medical neuro-oncology nurses are certified in oncology and skilled in caring for patients with brain and spinal tumors in all phases of their treatment.

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Surgical Neuro-Oncology

A surgical neuro-oncologist is a neurosurgeon with advanced subspecialty training and experience in all types of brain, spine and spinal cord tumor surgery. UC Irvine Medical Center [http://www.healthcare.uci.edu/mc.asp] offers specialized surgical oncology technical expertise, including advanced microsurgery, image-guided surgery (e.g., intra-operative MR tumor resection), awake cortical brain mapping, skull base endoscopic and microsurgical resections, stereotaxis, brachytherapy and PerFexion Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery. Surgical neuro-oncologists work with other specialists, including medical neuro-oncologists and radiation oncologists to optimize individual patient care.

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Radiation Oncology

Radiation therapy is one of the cornerstones of advanced, multi-modality malignant brain tumor therapy. Radiation-oncologists are physicians with advanced training and experience in the safe and effective delivery of therapeutic radiation. Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is an advanced technique that spares normal tissue while maintaining the highest possible therapeutic dose to the tumor. At UC Irvine, IMRT and spine radiosurgeries are performed with one of the most advanced machines in the world, the Varian Trilogy. Cranial stereotactic radiosurgery is performed using a Gamma Knife PerFexion unit.

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Neuropathology

A neuropathologist has advanced subspecialty training in diagnosing diseases of the brain and the nervous system through the examination of the microscopic and molecular biology gene expression of tissue samples obtained by the neurosurgeons during biopsies.

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Neuroradiology

A neuroradiologist specializes in obtaining and interpreting imaging of the nervous system. They are able to evaluate abnormalities of the brain by interpreting computed tomography (CT) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and angiograms of the brain and spinal cord. Advanced neuroimaging technologies available to UC Irvine Healthcare doctors include:

• functional MR scanning
• diffusion tensor imaging
• MR spectroscopy
• MR perfusion studies

These capabilities are critical to distinguish tumor progression from treatment response, to defining the outer limits of infiltrating tumors as well as helping surgical neuro-oncologists plan the safest possible procedures. Our team of neuroradiologists also includes neuro-interventional radiologists (NIR) who can selectively deliver chemotherapy just to tumor blood vessels and selectively embolize, or break up, tumors in preparation for surgery.

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Neuropsychology

Neuropsychologists are part of the evaluation and rehabilitation teams. These specialists can help individuals cope with the psychological, mental and emotional stresses and conditions associated with brain tumors and aid patients to improve and maintain quality of life.

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Clinical Nursing

Clinical nurses are a critical part of a brain tumor patient’s care, helping physicians and patients discuss the purpose of treatment changes to be expected. As specially trained patient and family educators, clinical nurses coordinate essential clinical care and provide vital patient and family support services.

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Social Work

Social workers are a source of information, support and advocacy for patients. They may perform psycho-social assessments and focus on how you and your family are functioning psychologically and socially. Social workers also may serve as an informational resource about insurance policies and help you learn what is covered under by the health plan.

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