Christine's Story: Removing A Tricky Meningioma
Christine Zinke was misdiagnosed with migraines. She saw Brian Nahed, MD, MSc, where she was diagnosed with a meningioma. Here meningioma was removed and she sees Dr. Nahed for regular checkups.
About Brian Nahed, MD
Dr. Brian Nahed is a neurosurgeon specializing in Brain Tumors (Glioblastoma, Low Grade Gliomas, Meningiomas, Metastatic Brain Tumors) and Brain Mapping / Intraoperative Imaging to improve patient outcomes. He is Director of Neurosurgery Residency Program at MGH and Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery.
Patient appointments: 617-724-5805. (Appointments / Second Opinions within 24 hrs.) Visit my web page.
Dr. Nahed is a brain tumor specialist with expertise in intraoperative technology to maximize patient outcomes. In addition, he is an internationally recognized expert in brain mapping, awake surgery, language and motor mapping, subcortical stimulation and minimally invasive procedures to treat brain tumors aggressively and safely. He serves as Treasurer and recently elected to President of the AANS/CNS National Section on Tumors.
Born in New York, Dr. Nahed attended UCLA where he majored in Neuroscience, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and with the department's Highest Honors. He attended the Yale School of Medicine where he was awarded the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship and graduated with honors. Dr. Nahed completed his neurosurgery residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital; where Dr. Nahed completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Drs. Daniel Haber and Shyamala Maheswaran in the MGH Cancer Center.
Dr. Brian Nahed was recruited to the MGH Department of Neurosurgery, MGH Brain Tumor Center, and Harvard Medical School in 2011. Dr. Brian Nahed's research focuses on developing the first blood based test to diagnose and monitor brain tumors. In collaboration with Drs. Haber, Maheswaran, and Stott, Dr. Nahed published the first evidence of circulating tumor cells in the blood of patients with glioblastoma. Drs Nahed and Stott run an NIH funded laboratory developing the firstblood test for patients with brain tumors.
As the Director of the MGH Neurosurgery Residency Program, he leads neurosurgical education. He serves as the Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the CNS/AANS Executive Committee For Brain Tumors. He Co-Chairs the CNS Leadership Institute and is an active member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Council State Neurological Societies. Dr. Nahed serves as the lead neurotrauma consultant for the National Football League (NFL).
Departments, Centers, & Programs:
Clinical Interests:
- Awake and Language Mapping Craniotomy
- Brain tumors
- Cervical and lumbar disc degeneration
- Degenerative spinal conditions
- Glioblastoma
- Hemangioblastomas
- Intrinsic Brain Tumors (Gliomas, Glioblastomas, others)
- Meningiomas
- Metastatic Cancer of the brain (from melanoma, lung, etc)
- Micro-neurosurgery
- Neurosurgery
- Neurosurgical radiation oncology
- Other cancers of the central nervous system
- Recurrent Brain Tumors (post-treatment)
- Spinal Tumor (Primary and Metastatic)
Treats:
- Adult
Locations
Mass General Cancer Center: Neuro-Oncology
55 Fruit St.
Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-724-5805
Fax: 617-724-5806
Medical Education
- MSc, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health*
- MD, Yale University School of Medicine
- Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Fellowship, New England Baptist Hospital
American Board Certifications
- Neurological Surgery, American Board of Neurological Surgery
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid NH
- Medicaid RI
- Medicaid VT
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Railroad Medicare
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
- WellSense NH
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Research
Circulating Tumor Cells in Brain Tumor Patients and Blood Based Biomarkers for Brain Tumor Patients
Dr. Brian Nahed's research recently identified the first evidence of tumor cells in the blood of patients with brain tumors - a landmark finding which changes our understanding of brain tumors and the blood. Dr. Nahed and his colleagues developed the first device which they used to identify, capture, and analyze circulating tumor cells in the blood of patients with brain cancer. Through a collaboration between bioengineers, molecular biologists and clinicians, a circulating tumor cell capture device was developed to capture and detect tumor cells from patients with cancer. Under the mentorship of Drs. Daniel Haber, Shyamala Maheswaran, and Mehmet Toner, they aim to harness this technology to genetically characterize tumor cells without needing an invasive biopsy, and determine responsiveness to targeted cancer drugs. It also offers the opportunity to study cancer stem cells or metastatic precursors, thought to be at the origin of cancer spread via the bloodstream, to define their molecular vulnerabilities and help design new therapies to prevent cancer metastasis.
Dr. Nahed has joined Dr. Shannon Stott to develop the first clinical tool to identify and monitor brain tumor patients using a blood test - expanding on their individual work on circulating tumor cells and exosomes. They are actively enrolling patients into their NIH funded research program.
For more information, please click here.
Publications
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Peer-Reviewed Publications: Dr. Nahed has 153 publications in peer-reviewed journals, given hundreds of presentations, published book chapters, scientific and patient centered blogs. Please refer to PubMed for a complete list of Dr. Nahed's publications. Leader in Liquid Biopsy Research and the first to develop a blood test for patients with brain tumors. Dr. Brian Nahed and Dr. Shannon Stott have developed the first blood based test to diagnose brain tumors from patient's blood. They have been awarded several grants, including an R01 from the NIH (National Institutes for Health) to develop a liquid biopsy for patients with brain tumors. Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Nahed serves on the Executive Committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons where he focuses on improving the education of neurosurgeons nationally and internationally. Dr. Nahed co-chairs the CNS leadership institute and serves as the co-chair of the development committee. He has served as scientific programming and annual meeting chair. Digital Biomarkers for Health. Dr. Nahed has developed novel use of digital biomarkers, technology, and tele-health to advance health care. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=nahed%20b
I was very confortable speaking the the doctor- very simple relaxed conversation.
This was my first time doing a virtual visit with a doctor. The experience is very positive. The doctor did his homework with my available medical information. I wish that I could do a follow-up visit like this.
Dr. Brian Nahed was wonderful, kind and very professional. He took the time to listen to all my questions and concerns and never once made me feel rushed. He truly made me feel like my health mattered. I am grateful to be his patient.
Excellent doctor explaining everything very well. He showed great understanding of my condition and great empathy.
I was very appreciative of the time that Dr Nahed and his nurse practitioner [redacted] spent with me to explain my MRI findings as well as to discuss my other health concerns and questions.
It is remarkable how connected Dr. Nahed can make you feel in a virtual appointment, even when meeting for the first time! He is personable and thorough, he takes the time to explain things and makes sure you understand. He clearly cares deeply about his patients. I have no doubt I will be in good hands for this surgery and beyond. I feel so ... Read More
Dr. Nahed was extremely kind and encouraging to me. He took away my heightened anxiety from my previous results from another provider.
My experience with this provider was everything it should be. He was knowledgeable and kind. He addressed all my concerns and made the necessary referrals for my continuing care. I would not hesitate to refer him to family and friends.
He cares
Dr Brian Nahed is one of the most caring physicians I have ever met. Helpful in every way and always puts me at ease. I wish all doctors could learn his ways of putting patients first and at ease.