Samsung Comprehensive Cancer Center

Brain Tumor Center

Excellence in Expertise and Innovation

The Brain Tumor Center at Samsung Medical Center provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care through close collaboration among neurosurgery, radiology, pathology, radiation oncology, hematology-oncology, otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery, endocrinology, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and critical care nursing.

Our center offers subspecialty clinics-including the Pituitary Tumor Clinic, Skull Base Tumor Clinic, Malignant Brain Tumor Clinic, and Metastatic Brain Tumor Clinic,-to ensure disease-specific expertise and optimize treatment outcomes. Utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and the latest surgical and non-surgical therapies, we prioritize patient safety and precision at every stage of care.

Getting It Right from the Start

Our center integrates advanced imaging modalities to characterize tumor characteristics and guide treatment strategies.

Perfusion MRI is used for diagnosis and surgical planning before surgery, assessing tumor aggressiveness prior to treatment, and evaluating therapeutic response during and after treatment.

Functional MRI evaluates the relationship between the tumor and critical cortical areas-for example, determining whether it is near the motor cortex (controlling hand or foot movement) or language centers. This information is essential for surgical planning to avoid injury to these areas and minimize postoperative neurological deficits.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) distinguishes recurrent tumors from treatment-related changes such as radiation necrosis, enabling timely and appropriate clinical decisions.

Specialized Expertise

Skull Base Tumor Clinic

We manage complex skull base tumors, including vestibular/trigeminal schwannomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, and craniopharyngiomas. Treatment options include microsurgery, endoscopic surgery, and radiosurgery. A multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, ENT, radiologists, and radiosurgery specialists ensures highly personalized care.

Malignant Brain Tumor Clinic

This clinic delivers precision oncology for malignant brain tumors using a multidisciplinary approach. We engage in global collaborations on genome-based research and high-throughput drug screening. By participating in international clinical trials, we expand treatment options for patients with treatment-resistant tumors and lead innovation in neuro-oncology.

Metastatic Brain Tumor Clinic

Management of metastatic brain tumors includes systemic therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. Gamma Knife is often preferred as a minimally invasive and effective option. Our multidisciplinary team provides coordinated care, supported by clinical and translational research to improve patient outcomes.

Pituitary Tumor Clinic

We employ minimally invasive endoscopic techniques for adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, and chordomas. Certain skull base tumors are removed via a small eyelid incision using trans-orbital endoscopy. Residual tumors located near critical nerves or structures requiring preservation are treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

Advancing Care Beyond Expectations

To ensure safety and precision during brain tumor surgery, we utilize the latest intraoperative technologies:

Navigation systems provide precise tumor localization based on preoperative MRI, and when combined with functional MRI, diffusion MRI, or PET CT, allow for highly accurate surgical planning and execution.

Mobile CT enables real-time imaging within the operating room to assess tumor resection completeness and detect complications.

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) continuously monitors cranial and spinal nerve function to reduce the risk of neurological deficits.

Fluorescence-guided surgery-using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), fluorescein, and indocyanine green (ICG)-helps distinguish tumor tissue from normal brain parenchyma, enabling maximal safe resection.

Neuroendoscopic Surgery offers minimally invasive access to deep-seated tumors, reducing scarring and shortening recovery times.

We also provide non-invasive options. Gamma Knife Surgery delivers high-dose gamma rays precisely to tumors while sparing surrounding normal brain tissue. Proton Therapy, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) enable high-dose radiation delivery with minimal exposure to adjacent critical structures.