MDNews - Central New York

SPECIAL FEATURE Enhancing Care for Brain Tumors About 25% of new Cleveland Clinic Brain Tumor Center patients at the Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center (BBTC) come from outside Ohio to seek treatment. The center accommodates approximately 9,000 outpatient visits each year. Through a partnership with the Taussig Cancer Institute, center physicians are able to provide exceptional care to patients with both primary and metastatic brain and spine lesions. A defi ning feature of the BBTC is its Gamma Knife® cranial radio- surgery program, which is one of the most experienced programs in the country, having performed 3,300 cases during the last 14 years. “We’re very proud of our Gamma Knife therapy program, which is one of the most active programs in the world,” says Dr. Bolwell. “This world-renowned program uses state-of-the-art technology and provides a wonderful example of physician collaboration between radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and neurosurgeons.” Utilizing the most advanced technology, the center offers cranial radiosurgery using the Gamma Knife Perfexion™ , the latest generation of the Gamma Knife system. Providing enhanced patient benefi ts — including increased patient comfort and safety, reduced treatment times and the ability to treat a wider variety of brain tumors — cranial radiosurgery using the Gamma Knife Perfexion requires minimal downtime after surgery and is generally performed on an outpatient basis. The BBTC also offers patients with previously inoperable brain tumors new hope for treatment — laser interstitial thermal therapy, or AutoLITT® . Center physicians completed the world’s fi rst human trial of this device that uses a laser probe to necrotize or coagulate the tumor from inside out. The BBTC was also one of the fi rst centers worldwide to integrate the newest intra-operative high-fi eld MRI technology with the AutoLITT system to enhance this novel brain tumor treatment. “Innovative technology along with a multidisciplinary approach, translational research and a commitment to compassionate, individualized care helps us achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients,” says Gene H. Barnett, M.D., M.B.A., FACS. Advanced Care for Gynecological and Breast Malignancies The Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health Institute (WHI) provides multidisciplinary care for gynecological cancers, including ovarian, endometrial, cervical and uterine cancers. Offering robotic and open surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the institute’s team of gynecologic oncologists and gynecologic pathologists works closely with physicians from the Taussig Cancer Institute to ensure that patients benefi t from a comprehensive array of treatment modalities. In addition to providing services for cancer patients, the WHI offers a Familial Cancer Registry, which ensures that women who have a strong family history of gynecological or breast cancer receive the appropriate screening and preventive measures. In terms of breast cancer, Cleveland Clinic Breast Center offers several diagnostic imaging modalities, including a breast MRI program, which has helped develop the standard of care for breast MRI use in staging and preventive screening in high-risk patient populations. “Breast services offers a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer treatment, particularly with the addition of genomics experts,” says Tommaso Falcone, M.D., Chair of the Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health Institute. For treatment of breast cancer, several surgical alternatives are available. Cleveland Clinic Breast Center team — which consists of breast surgeons, medical breast specialists and radiologists with additional expertise in breast imaging — also includes microvascu- lar breast reconstructive surgeons who offer deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) free-fl ap reconstruction following mastectomy. This procedure utilizes abdominal fat harvested from the patient’s own abdomen, allowing patients to avoid use of an implant. Patients are also able to avoid common complications that can occur follow- ing a transverse rectus abdominal muscle fl ap procedure, as DIEP MDNEWS.COM  MD NEWS Central New York | 15 Gene H. Barnett, M.D., M.B.A., FACS Tommaso Falcone, M.D.

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