Emory Healthcare 
Being told you have a brain, pituitary or skull base tumor is frightening. It’s important to find someone who will provide personalized, progressive care.
If you have a brain, pituitary or skull base tumor, you deserve outstanding care from specialists you trust. At Emory Neurology & Neurosurgery and Winship Cancer Institute, we provide the highest-quality collaborative care for patients and families. We are here to support you every step of the way.
The Emory Healthcare Brain, Pituitary and Skull Base Tumor Programs include more than 30 brain and spine specialists who provide multidisciplinary treatments not available anywhere else in Georgia. Our program has a comprehensive radiation program for tumors, including Gamma Knife® radiosurgery, proton beam radiation, and intraoperative radiation. We perform more than 600 surgeries each year. We offer the largest and most comprehensive portfolio of brain and skull base tumor clinical trials in the state of Georgia to offer you access to cutting-edge treatments.
As a patient, you also have access to the nationally recognized Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and the Emory Brain Health Center. WInship Cancer institute is the only NCI-designated cancer institute in the state of Georgia. Both research facilities grant patients critical resources like clinical trials, survivorship assistance and support groups.
A tumor is a growth, or mass, of abnormal cells. Tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign) and can form inside the brain or along the spine.
Primary brain tumors start in the brain. Other tumors start somewhere else in the body and spread to the brain or spine. They’re called metastatic tumors.
A skull tumor is a growth of cells in the tissue at the base of the skull or surrounding your eyes and nose.
Many tumors can affect the brain, spine and skull, including:
Cancers that spread from other areas may have root causes, but the causes for primary brain and skull tumors are often unknown.
There are a few factors that increase your chances of developing a brain, spine or skull tumor, including:
Certain tumors, or tumors in certain places, may come with warning signs. But brain tumors do not always cause symptoms and can grow very slowly.
Reach out to your doctor if you experience any of the following:
The first step is to have a physical exam where your doctor checks your general health. Then, your doctor may recommend additional tests.
At Emory Healthcare, we may perform the following tests:
Your doctor checks for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes, and your response to pain.
These tests help doctors grade the tumor and determine the best treatment plan.
We “grade” tumors on how the cancer cells look compared to normal brain cells. Your grade helps your care team understand how quickly the tumor may grow and the likelihood it will spread to other areas of the body. It also shows how the tumor might respond to treatment and how likely it is to grow back after treatment.
At Emory Neurology and Neurosurgery, our team has the knowledge, skills and experience to care for any tumor grade.
There are four grades of brain tumors:
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We offer progressive treatment options for brain and skull tumor care, including state of the art and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, radiation, systemic therapy, comprehensive complementary cancer care, and rehabilitation.
Create a MyChart account to schedule online.
For the neurology department, call 404-778-3444.
For the neurosurgery department, call 404-778-5770.
Create a MyChart account to schedule online.
For the neurology department, call 404-778-3444.
For the neurosurgery department, call 404-778-5770.