APPOINTMENTS & REFERRALS

About Us

The Brain Tumor Center offers a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to the care of adult and pediatric patients with tumors of the nervous system as well as neurologic complications of cancer.

Patients can be referred for the development of a treatment plan in conjunction with their primary physician, for a second opinion, or for ongoing management by the Brain Tumor Center physicians.

Patient appointments or referral inquiries may be made by calling the
Brain Tumor Center at (617) 724-8770.

Within the Center, patients with suspected or diagnosed brain tumors are evaluated by a team of dedicated multidisciplinary specialists in neurosurgery, neurology, radiation medicine, diagnostic neuroradiology, neuropathology, Nursing Services and Pharmacy.

Assistance for patients and their families is provided throughout the course of illness by social service, patient support groups and counseling.

Members of the Center participate in protocols provided by the National Cancer Institute, the New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy (NABTT) consortium of the NCI, and the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG).

In addition we are members of the CALG-B, and on the coordinating committees of the American Brain Tumor Association, the Pituitary Tumor Network Association and the Central Brain Tumor Registry.

Referred cases are reviewed at formal conferences held on Monday and Tuesday mornings of each week.

These conferences provide expedited review of neurologic history, radiographs and pathologic materials. Results of the clinical discussions and treatment plans are provided to referring physicians and/or to patients and their families within one week of receipt.

Materials should be forwarded by expedited carrier (such as Federal Express, United Parcel Service, etc.) as a single package and should include:

• A synopsis of the clinical history that details previous operations, radiation and chemotherapy and describes the current condition of patient.
• A copy of the previous pathologic report, and, if possible, representative samples of the original glass pathologic slides.
• A list of specific questions being posed and the therapies being considered.
• The name, telephone and fax numbers of the referring family member and/or physician.

The information provided will be evaluated and recommendations will be made regarding therapeutic options such as surgery, radiation therapy, proton beam therapy and radiosurgery, gene therapy, and investigative chemotherapy. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail the BTC at MGH. Copies of the relevant head or spine MRI or CT scans (not reports), including, if possible, a study performed within the previous month.