If you have symptoms that might suggest the possibility of a brain tumor, your doctor may recommend diagnostic neuro-imaging tests such as: 

• Computerized tomography (CT): CT scans combine X-ray images to form precise images of soft tissues, including the brain. 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Using strong magnetic fields and radio waves, MRIs produce detailed three-dimensional (3D) pictures of the brain. 
• Positron emission tomography (PET): Before this procedure, doctors inject a small amount of radioactive sugar into your bloodstream. This sugar collects in tumors, highlighting them on images.  

Surgery is typically required to obtain tissue samples from suspected brain tumors to determine if they are cancerous. Your doctor may suggest: 

• Craniotomy:  Surgeons open the skull to remove some or all of a tumor. At Englewood Health, our neurosurgeons use the latest software, including Stealth and BrainLab Neuronavigation, to safely remove tumor tissue while preserving surrounding healthy brain tissue. 
• Stereotactic biopsy: Using advanced imaging techniques, neurosurgeons make a small scalp incision and opening in the skull to access the brain. They then remove a small sample of brain tumor tissue for further testing by our in-house pathology team, which determines if cancer is present. 
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap): A sample of cerebrospinal fluid from around your spinal cord may be removed through a thin needle and analyzed for abnormal cells.