Krembil Neuroscience Centre (KNC)

Neuro-Oncology - Patient Information

Overview Clinics Research Surgical Team Patient Information A - Z Glossary Map & Directions Health Professionals Media Room

Referrals and Diagnosis

Neuro-oncology bridges two priority programs at University Health Network: Neuroscience and Oncology. Its multi-disciplinary membership encompasses clinicians, basic and clinician-scientists, nurses, nurse-clinicians and other support personnel, working at all three sites of UHN. We care for 200 patients with newly diagnosed primary nervous system tumors, and 1,000 with secondary nervous system tumors each year. We are a national/international referral center for patients with nervous system tumors and neuro complications of malignancy.

Patients are referred to our services and programs by a specialist or by their family physician.

Patient referrals to the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Gamma Knife Centre can be made to:
Dr Mark Bernstein, Neurosurgeon, TWH, and
Dr Cynthia Menard, Radiation Oncologist, PMH

Patient Referrals - Gamma Knife Centre
Toronto Western Hospital
Room 3McL-448
399 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8
Ph: 416-603-5445.
Fx: 416-603-5155.

Treatment and Support

Treatment of tumors in the brain, Spine cord or other parts of the nervous system may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, neurological and neuro-radiological follow-up or a combination of these techniques. Our programs and services provide care for neuro-oncology patients at all stages of treatment:

Pre-Operative: We use state-of-the-art radiology tests to diagnose the type and location of tumors to help the team decide on the best course of treatment for patients.

Intra-Operative: We use image-guided, intra-operative MRI, endoscopy and other advanced surgical techniques to remove tumors safely and effectively.
Post-Operative: Specially-trained nursing staff and allied health professionals help patients recover after surgery. Many nervous system tumors require additional treatment after surgery, which is guided by medical and radiation oncologists at the Gerry and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumor Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital. The Pencer Centre also provides support to patients and families who are coming to terms with serious or terminal illnesses.

Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Family
Gamma Knife Centre

Toronto Western Hospital is also home to the Joey and Toby Family Tanenbaum Family Gamma Knife Centre. The first of its kind in the province of Ontario, the Gamma Knife Centre is a unique collaboration between the Krembil Neuroscience Centre and the Radiation Medicine Program at Princess Margaret Hospital. The Gamma Knife is specialized equipment for intracranial radiosurgery, a non-invasive method for treating brain disorders. It delivers a single, high dose of radiation to an intracranial target. This technology makes it possible to administer a high radiation dose to the diseases area, minimizing the risk of damaging healthy tissue.

The Gamma Knife unit helps patients with a broad range of neurological and neurosurgical disorders including arteriovenous malformations, benign brain tumors such as acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, chordoma, and glomus tumors, movement disorders such as Parkinson disease, pain syndromes such as trigeminal neuralgia and epilepsy.

Useful Links

[back to top]
[back to Neuro-Oncolgy home]