- CLINICAL AREAS
MULTIDISCIPLINARY PATHOLOGY UNITS
NEURO-ONOCOLOGY UNIT
Neuro-oncology is a medical field dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients suffering from primary tumours of the nervous system. It also addresses neurological problems caused by cancer outside of the nervous system, both metastatic and non-metastatic such as, brain metastases, spinal cord compression, metabolic, infectious, cerebrovascular and other complications. Neuro-Oncology also involves the diagnosis and care for patients with neurological side-effects that may result from treatment of cancer, as with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. At the Champalimaud Clinical Centre, the Neuro-oncology Unit team strives to bring the most advanced diagnosis and treatment options for all our patients.
Neuro-oncology Unit
Pathology
Neuro-oncology in cancer practice
Neurological complications are frequent in cancer. At least 10% of cancer patients will develop brain metastases, incidence differing according to the type of neoplasia the patient may suffer and reaching up to 40% in certain types of lung cancer. Neurological non-metastatic complications of cancer and cancer treatment are also frequent and their early diagnosis can prevent the decline and loss of the patients’ quality of life.
Primary central nervous system tumoUrs are not among the most common cancers. However, over one quarter are malignant and aggressive. Being diverse and heterogeneous, they require distinct therapeutic approaches, patient centred and multidisciplinary in nature. Successful follow-up of patients with primary central nervous system tumoUrs demands knowledge and experience, allowing for prompt diagnosis and treatment of complications, that may occur along patients’ clinical evolution.
Neuro-oncology Unit
Pathology
Neuro-oncology at the Champalimaud Clinical Centre
Assessing patients with neuro-oncological problems in other Units of the Centre, cooperating with their attending physicians, and taking responsibility for the clinical care of patients with primary nervous system tumors are the main clinical duties of the Neuro-Oncology Unit.
The Neuro-Oncology Unit is also committed to participate in the development of new techniques that might lead to breakthroughs in diagnostics and therapeutics. For patients with brain tumors, ongoing collaboration with Neuroradiology, is examining results obtained with advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques, to enhance the diagnosis of metastatic lesions and facilitate the distinction between recurring brain tumor and radiation induced brain lesions.
Direct clinical interaction with patients is mainly carried out by neurologists of the Neuro-Oncology Unit, who have knowledge and experience in the diagnosis and management of neurological impairment in patients with cancer, and have proficiency in the care of patients with primary central nervous system tumors.
Neuro-oncology Unit
Team
Meet our team
José Bravo Marques, MD
Director
Ana Luísa Vasconcelos, MD
Radiation Oncology
Ângelo Silva, MD
Nuclear Medicine
Daniela Garcez, MD
Neurology
Jaime Santos, MD
Medical Oncology
Joana Ruivo, MD
Neuroradiology
Rui Alves, MD
Internal Medicine
