Neuropathology
Accurate diagnosis is the first step toward treating brain or spinal tumors in children. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is the only facility in Southern California with designated pediatric neuropathologists. Thanks to this expertise, we can give your child a quicker, more accurate diagnosis and the best available treatment.
Neuropathology: Why Choose Us
Our neuropathologists are experts in diagnosing all types of pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors. And we give your child exceptional care—U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Children’s Hospital Los Angeles among the top 10 pediatric hospitals nationwide, and it is the highest ranked children’s hospital in California.
Diagnosing the specific type of brain or spinal cord tumor helps our brain tumor team create a customized treatment plan for your child. The neuropathology team provides:
- Efficient diagnoses: If your child needs surgery to evaluate a tumor, our neuropathologists are on-site to quickly sample the tumor tissue during the operation. And thanks to our in-house histology services, our neuropathologists create the slides used to evaluate tumors much faster than average. This real-time consultation allows for preliminary diagnoses that can help your child start treatment sooner.
- Innovative treatments: At Children’s Hospital, your child has access to one of the largest clinical trial portfolios for pediatric brain tumor patients in the country. Our neuropathologists provide their expertise to the latest clinical trials for brain tumor research to offer the most promising new therapies.
- Personalized care: Our Center for Personalized Medicine created OncoKids, one of the only genetic testing panels designed specifically for pediatric tumors. Each brain tumor pathology report includes this genetic testing data. This helps us personalize the treatment plan for each child.
- Streamlined medical records: Our neuropathologists have developed an innovative integrated pathology report that compiles all data on a tumor into a single report, reducing the risk of missing important details. This combined reporting gives neuro-oncologists all your child’s test results in one location, leading to more effective, timely treatment.
- A collaborative approach: Every week, our neuropathology team discusses each child’s pathology results with specialists from neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and other departments. These weekly meetings foster cooperation among all the specialists involved in your child’s care.
Brain Tumor Diagnosis
When your child has a brain tumor, we may need to take a tissue sample for diagnosis and genetic testing. Our neuropathologists use specially designed tools and testing to appropriately diagnose pediatric brain tumors, which helps our neuro-oncologists understand your child’s prognosis and best treatment options. We are also available to review and consult on brain and all spinal cord disorders originally diagnosed at other hospitals.
Our pediatric neuropathologists are experts at evaluating these samples to give your child the most accurate brain tumor diagnosis. With this information, your child’s neuro-oncologist creates a personalized treatment plan. Treatment for a brain tumor might include:
Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment
At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, your child has access to the full range of brain and spinal cord tumor services. Learn more about our brain tumor diagnosis and treatments.
