The Neurosurgical Oncology division at UAMS provides multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art care for patients with brain and spine tumors. Our program includes neurosurgeons, a neuro-oncologist, radiation oncologists, a neuropathologist, neuro-psychologists, neuro-interventional radiologists, and specialized nurses. All of our neurosurgeons who remove brain and spine tumors are fellowship-trained. Certain complex neurosurgical cases are done in combination with otolaryngology or orthopedic surgery. Read the patient story.
UAMS has the only fellowship-trained neuro-oncologist in the state. This training allows us to ensure our patients are receiving the best up-to-date care available. Each patient is carefully evaluated by our team to determine the best treatment plan. We evaluate patients for both surgical and nonsurgical management. We treat patients with both primary and secondary brain and spine tumors.
The Department of Neurosurgery offers techniques that are not offered elsewhere in the state of Arkansas. These techniques include advanced endoscopy, robotic stereotaxis, BrainPath, laser thermal ablation, and gamma knife radiosurgery. Patients are also screened for enrollment in clinical trials. Dr. Analiz Rodriguez, Director of Neurosurgical Oncology, and Dr. J.D. Day, Chair of Neurosurgery, have implemented tumor tissue banking. This allows us to analyze patient tissue to develop targeted therapy.
Research and Clinical Trials
Several physicians in our neuro-oncology team have translational research laboratories. Dr. Fen Xia, Chair of Radiation Oncology, and Dr. Analiz Rodriguez, Director of Neurosurgical Oncology, both have laboratories that investigate novel methods to target glioblastoma. Learn more about cancer research. Dr. Xia also studies brain metastases, including new therapies for patients with stage IV breast cancer. Learn more about Dr. Xia’s research.
UAMS also offers clinical trials for brain tumor patients. Dr. J.D. Day, Chair of Neurosurgery, was the first surgeon in the nation to inject a new cold virus into a glioblastoma. Read the Patient Story. Dr. Day specializes in removing tumors in difficult-to-access locations. As a surgical innovator, his goal is to combine advanced surgical techniques with targeted therapies for malignant brain tumors. This approach is only available in a handful of institutions in the nation.