Role of neurosurgery and radiation therapy in the management of brain tumors

Abstract

In the United States, approximately 65,000 people are diagnosed with primary brain tumors each year, with an incidence of 19.3 cases per 100,000 person-years. These numbers represent a wide spectrum of disease, from benign to malignant, and prognosis varies widely based on disease. Treatment of primary brain tumors most often uses a combination of surgery and radiation. However, over the past several generations, technological advancements have significantly altered the treatment paradigm. This article reviews the current role of neurosurgery and radiation therapy in the management of primary brain tumors.