About Brain and Spinal Tumors

Primary brain and spinal cord tumors are abnormal masses of cells that originate in the central nervous system. This is distinct from tumors that have spread from elsewhere in the body. It is always important to determine whether a tumor is cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). However, in the brain, any tumor is potentially problematic as it may disrupt your normal neurologic function.

At Fox Chase Cancer Center, our doctors have expertise in common and rare tumors of the central nervous system, including:

• Glioblastoma
• Low and high grade glioma (oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, oligoastrocytoma)
• Meningioma (benign, atypical, anaplastic)
• Acoustic neuroma
• Pituitary adenomas
• Pineal region tumors
• Ependymoma
• Anaplastic epyndymoma
• Subependymomoa
• Myxopapillary ependymoma
• Germinioma
• Hemangioblastoma
• Craniopharyngioma
• Medulloblastoma
• Primintive neuroectodemal tumor (PNET)
• Paraganglioma
• Hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor