Neurosurgical Management of Adult Central Nervous System Tumors

Abstract With more than 100 histologically distinct primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors in addition to metastatic disease, tumors within the brain and spine each have their own distinct symptom profile and outcomes. Neurosurgical management of CNS tumors has evolved in tandem with advances in medical and radiation oncology. For most tumors, neurosurgical intervention remains the primary method for definitive diagnosis and the first line of treatment. This chapter describes the rationale for neurosurgical intervention for specific considerations for common tumor types in adults and details surgical techniques relevant to neuro-oncology practice.