Our collaborative approach to care
Brain Tumor Board
Through our Brain Tumor Board, a team of pediatric healthcare experts − including neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons and specialists in neuro-imaging, neuro-pathology and radiation oncology − meets weekly to review cases and develop treatment plans for children whose brain and spine tumors have been newly diagnosed, have recurred or require a change in therapeutic plan. This includes outside consultations and second opinions.
- Each week, about seven cases are presented and discussed. Case history, diagnostic images (CT, MRIs), surgical findings and pathology are each reviewed individually.
- Literature review and educational materials are distributed and discussed to support teaching and to assure justification for the team's recommendations.
- Approximately 30 representatives from various subspecialties attend each week.
- Representatives from Family Services, including child life specialists and social workers, also attend.
Meeting weekly with families
Families get the opportunity to meet weekly with multiple specialists in a single location. This collaborative team approach gives families the chance to ask all the questions they need to in order to fully understand their child's illness and make educated decisions regarding his or her care.
Providing second opinions
Our pediatric specialists make their expertise available to anyone seeking a second opinion, regardless of where a patient is currently receiving treatment. Each child's case can be evaluated by the entire brain tumor team to receive an expert second opinion on their current diagnosis and treatment.
Specialists caring for your child
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Pediatric neurosurgeons - Only six pediatric neurosurgeons in Illinois are certified by the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery; three of those six are in our Division of Neurosurgery.
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Pediatric neuro-oncologists - Our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is the region's largest provider of services for all forms of cancer. The neuro-oncology program is a national referral center for novel treatment of brain and spinal tumors in children and young adults. The hospital also participates in many national trials through the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) and is a major referral center for clinical trials through the national Children's Oncology Group (COG), allowing our neuro-oncology team to provide treatments in the care of children with brain tumors.
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Pediatric radiation oncologists - Children who need radiation therapy use state-of-the-art facilities at the Radiation Oncology Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The pediatric program, directed by MaryAnne Marymont, MD, gives patients access to the most advanced radiotherapy technology, such as Gamma knife and linear accelerator system. The doctors at Procure are now also providing care with Proton therapy as well.
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Pediatric neuroradiologists - The proper diagnosis is the first step toward the best possible treatment of children with brain tumors, and the neuroradiologists in our Department of Medical Imaging, who have many years of experience in pediatrics, offer virtually every known state-of-the-art diagnostic test available, many of which are fully staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Important testing provided by medical imaging includes MRI, CT, nuclear medicine scans, and more. MRI studies are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors. MRI is an important tool for close monitoring of tumors as well as specialized testing such as MR angiography, MR spectroscopy, MR flow study, functional MRI, tractography, imaging for neuro-navigation during surgery and more. These advanced diagnostic imaging techniques which are not readily available in other medical centers help precise localization and nature of brain tumors and lead us to the most appropriate treatment plan.
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Pediatric neuropsychologists - Within the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, experts in neuropsychology under the direction of Frank Zelko, PhD, evaluate relevant academic, behavioral, and emotional situations that may be related to a child's brain tumor and treatment. Intervention suggestions and consultation are provided, with an emphasis upon appropriate school programming. Neuropsychological evaluations also can help identify possible "delayed" effects of a child's brain tumor and treatment.
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Pediatric neuropathologists - Much of what is known about brain tumors depends on the skills of professionals not often recognized by the public — those of pediatric pathologists, the highly trained specialists in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine who perform studies of all kinds on the tumor specimens sent to them for analysis. The department's histology lab is equipped to handle immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies, as well as molecular diagnostic work-ups on a routine basis.
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Family Services - The numerous resources and experts in Family Services include experienced child life specialists, social workers, chaplains and support from other parents through our ParentWise program.
Also key to your child's care are pediatric specialists in: Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Neurology, Epilepsy Center and Rehabilitation Services.