Department of Neurosurgery

Sacral Tumor Center

What are Sacral Tumors?

Sacral tumors are rare tumors of the spine that require specialty expertise in their treatment. There are many different types of sacral tumors. They can broadly be classified as either a primary bone tumor or a metastasis. The most common primary malignant sacral tumor is chordoma. Treatment depends on the tumor type. The sacral tumor program at Rhode Island Hospital combines extensive experience and technical expertise in the multidisciplinary treatment of these uncommon tumors. Our center is led by Ziya L. Gokaslan, MD, chief of neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital and chairman of the department of neurosurgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and a world-renowned neurosurgeon with unique expertise in sacral tumor treatment.

Treatment Options:

Surgery is often the first-line treatment option in patients with sacral tumors. We utilize advanced intraoperative technology to ensure maximal tumor resection and safe surgery. This includes intraoperative computed tomography and frameless stereotactic navigation to help with tumor resection. Chemotherapy and radiation are often used as adjuncts to surgery or in cases of residual or recurrent tumor.

Neurosurgery

Ziya L. Gokaslan, MD, FAANS, FACS

Julius Stoll, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Clinical Director, Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute, President, Neurosurgery Foundation
Adetokunbo A. Oyelese, MD, PhD

Professor of Neurosurgery, Vice-Chair, Strategy and Business Development, Director, Norman Prince Spine Institute, Director, Spinal Surgery Division
Patricia Leigh Zadnik Sullivan, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Director, Center for Spine Tumor & Chordoma Research, Member, Legoretta Cancer Center

Medical Oncology

Christopher Azzoli, MD

Jeffrey A. Brown and Barbara Horovitz Brown Associate Professor of Translational Medicine
Ariel Birnbaum, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine, Clinician Educator
Maria Constantinou, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
Thomas Ollila, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Radiation Oncology

James Brindle, PhD

Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology
Thomas A. DiPetrillo, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Jaroslaw T. Hepel, MD

Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Neurosurgery, Director of Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital
Paul Koffer, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Kara Leonard, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Associate Program Director, Radiation Oncology Residency, Tufts University School of Medicine
Yakub Puthawala, MD

Clinical Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology
Mark Rivard, PhD

Professor of Radiation Oncology
Esther Yu, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology

Neuropathology

Douglas C. Anthony, MD, PhD

Professor of Neurology, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Suzanne M. De La Monte, MD

Professor of Neurosurgery, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
John E. Donahue, MD

Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Michael Punsoni, MD

Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Clinician Educator
Harry Rosenberg, MD

Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Neuro-Oncology

Heinrich Elinzano, MD

Associate Professor of Neurology and Medicine, Clinician Educator, Co-Director, Brain Cancer Committee, Co-Director, Brown University Oncology Research Group, Neuro-Oncology Medical Lead, Brown University Health Cancer Institute
Howard P. Safran, MD

Professor of Medicine
Sasmit Sarangi, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurology
Eric T. Wong, MD

Professor of Medicine, Professor of Radiation Oncology, Professor of Neurosurgery, Professor of Neurology, Director of Medical Neuro-Oncology