Neuro-oncology

Neuro-Oncology is an important and developing field of Neurology, that primarily deals with diagnosis and treatment of both primary brain tumors and complications of systemic cancer. Other topics of interest and research are molecular genetics, paraneoplastic diseases, epilepsy and neurotoxicity (both central and peripheral).

The EFNS Neuro-Oncology Panel is contributing to implement Neuro-Oncology within European Neurology, with particular attention paid in the last years to the new EU countries.

A link has been established with the Section of Neuro-Oncology of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), in order to improve the cooperation between Europe and US, regarding educational and organisational items. When in 2005 Neuro-Oncology has been recognized as a subspecialty of Neurology in US, a curriculum for Neuro-Oncology has been developed, and this item is currently discussed in Europe. Due to the fact that Neuro-Oncology is strongly multidisciplinary, contacts for future cooperation are being developed with the European Association for Neuro-Onocology (EANO).

The role of the neuro-oncologist in neurology has been the subject of a position paper (W Grisold, Heimans JJ, Postma TJ, Grant R, Soffietti R, and the Neuro-Oncology Panel of the EFNS, The position of the neurologist in Neuro-Oncology (CME-article), European Journal of Neurology 2002; 9: 201-205

The Neuro-Oncology Panel has set up Task Forces to draw Guidelines in different specific topics. Up to date two Guidelines have been published:

 “Guidelines for paraneoplastic neurological syndromes” (Vedeler et al, Management of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes: report of an EFNS Task Force. European Journal of Neurology 2006; 13:682-690) 

 “Guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain metastases” (Soffietti et al, EFNS Guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases: report of an EFNS Task Force. European Journal of Neurology 2006; 13:674-681).

New Guidelines on “Management on low grade gliomas” will be published in 2010 (Eur. J. Neurol. and Handbook of Neurological Management, 2^nd Edition).

The EFNS Neuro-Oncology Panel promotes Main Topics and/or Teaching Courses at annual EFNS meetings. Neuro-Oncology has been a Main Topic In Vienna 2002,  Helsinki 2003 and Glasgow 2006. A Neuro-Oncology teaching course has been held in Brussels in 2007. One Focused Workshop has been held in Madrid 2008 (Paraneoplastic Syndromes) and another Focused Workshop is scheduled in Florence 2009 (Epilepsy in brain tumors).

Secretary:
Roberta Rudà
Division of Neuro-Oncology, Depts Neuroscience and Oncology
University and San Giovanni Battista Hospital
Via Cherasco 15
10126 – Torino, Italy
Email: rudarob@hotmail.com