The surgery can be a biopsy to determine which brain tumor is present or can be used to reduce the size of the tumor and in some cases, cure the patient of the brain tumor. There are some tumors, such as brainstem tumors, for which surgery is not an option. The goal with surgery is to reduce the size of the tumor without harming the surrounding normal brain. However, surgery is infrequently a curative procedure. Radiation and chemotherapy serve as additional therapies in treating brain tumors.
Radiotherapy plays a central role in the treatment of brain tumors.
After surgery, radiation is used to treat the residual tumor. Radiation attempts to reduce the size of the tumor or to halt its progreesion. Even if the neurosurgeon removes all the visible tumor, there are usually cells of the tumor that remain. Radiation targets these potential sources for tumor recurrance. Technology has improved the delivery of radiation so that normal brain can be spared of its effects.