Dr. Chen is a neurosurgeon who specializes in skull base surgery, vascular surgery and minimally invasive approaches.
Meningioma Treatment Options
There are several ways to treat meningiomas. Choose a medical team that offers them all.
Meningioma Treatment Options
There are several ways to treat meningiomas. Choose a medical team that offers them all.
Get expert care for a meningioma tumor today
If you or a loved one has a meningioma tumor, it’s important to seek expert care. Even though most meningiomas are benign (noncancerous), they can still cause serious complications. UW Medicine is home to top meningioma experts. We’ll help you decide whether your tumor needs treatment right away or if we can take a wait-and-see approach.
Meningioma tumor treatment at UW Medicine
Meningioma tumor treatment at UW Medicine
Whether you're newly diagnosed with a meningioma, or your tumor has returned after previous treatment, our team can help. We have experience treating all types of meningiomas and offer a full range of treatment options.
If your tumor isn't cancerous — but it's causing symptoms — you'll likely need radiation or surgery (or both). These treatments can safely and effectively shrink or remove your tumor. If your meningioma is cancerous, you may need chemotherapy in addition to radiation and surgery. Although it's frightening to face any type of cancer, you can take comfort in knowing your care team will include experts from the renowned Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Radiation therapy
- We offer Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, an advanced treatment that sends many high-dose beams of radiation to your tumor at once.
- For patients who are not candidates for radiosurgery, we offer proton beam radiation, an advanced radiation treatment that precisely targets tumors. Proton therapy is less toxic to the surrounding brain, blood vessels and cranial nerves than standard photon radiation, preserving cognitive functions such as memory and language function.
- We can also perform brachytherapy, where we place tiny radioactive seeds next to your tumor.
Surgery
Our neurosurgeons utilize minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures to remove a tumor from the most difficult locations. The amount of tumor we can remove depends on its location and whether it's connected to vital brain tissue. If we can't remove the entire tumor, radiation therapy can help destroy what's left after
Chemotherapy
If your meningioma is cancerous, we also offer personalized targeted therapies and access to clinical trials for novel treatment of aggressive meningiomas. This may include a type of chemotherapy called Avastin® (bevacizumab).
Teaming up for the best outcomes
Fred Hutch is an independent organization that serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program. Together, we work as a team to bring you the specialized focus of a leading independent cancer center plus the comprehensive services of a top-ranked health system. With the two organizations known globally for medical discoveries, you’ll also have access to the latest research, treatment options and clinical trials.
Stephanie Chen, MD
Sam Emerson, MD, PhD
Dr. Emerson is a neurosurgeon whose areas of expertise include cancerous and noncancerous brain tumors.
Manuel Ferreira, MD, PhD
Dr. Ferreira’s areas of expertise include skull base surgery and Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery.
Jacob Ruzevick, MD
Dr. Ruzevick specializes in both neuro-oncology (brain cancer) and skull base surgery.
Laligam N. Sekhar, MD
Dr. Sekhar is a pioneer and innovator in the treatment of meningiomas in difficult locations in the base of the brain and near venous sinuses. He is also an expert in dealing with tumors involving major blood vessels of the brain.
During the online scheduling process, you’ll be asked to:
- Confirm whether you have an imaging study (such as an MRI or CT scan) showing your meningioma
- Choose whether you’d prefer an in-person appointment at one of our clinics in Seattle, Washington, or a video visit*
- Provide the name of the neurologist or neurosurgeon who diagnosed your meningioma
- Provide the name of the medical facility where you were diagnosed and that has your imaging test results
*If you will be outside of Washington state, our team will call you to discuss appointment options.
Is my insurance accepted?
The UW Medicine difference
At UW Medicine, you get a team of specialists — led by one of our neurosurgeons — dedicated to your treatment and recovery. Whether you need radiation therapy, physical therapy or pain management services, several experts will work together to help you get better.
Because our doctors are also researchers, they can provide access to the latest, evidence-based meningioma treatments. We help create and keep up with national guidelines related to meningioma care. And by leading research studies such as clinical trials, we work to find better ways to diagnose and treat meningiomas.