Through the patient’s eyes: an emphasis on patient-centered values in operative decision making in the management of malignant glioma

The Joint Section on Tumors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons is now in its 30th year. In many ways its growth and development has paralleled neurosurgery and medicine as a whole. This is most evident in our endeavor towards more patient-centered care and focus on quantity and quality of life. As the push towards evidence-based care continues, it is important to ensure that individualized care remains a guiding principle. Conscientious surgeons continue to refine techniques and develop technologies that push the boundaries of surgical efficacy while better defining the risks of surgery and the impacts of surgical complications. This article provides a review of the factors involved in minimizing risk and obtaining maximal outcomes for patients through insightful patient selection and evidence-based surgical decision-making. Herein, we present the philosophy and practice of the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center at the Henry Ford Health System as one type of approach to caring for the patient with a malignant glioma.