Abstract
The Joint Section on Tumors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) was formed in 1984, at the suggestion of Dr. Edward R. Laws, Jr. and with Dr. Mark Rosenblum as the first Section Chair. The Joint Section on Tumors is the first professional organization devoted to the study and treatment of brain tumors. Its initial goals were to ‘assist in the education of neurosurgeons in neuro-oncology and to serve as a resource [to the AANS and CNS] and other national groups on the clinical treatment of and research into nervous system tumors’. During its 20-year history, the Section has facilitated both open and invited talks at the neurosurgical national meetings, conducted its own Satellite Symposia, and instituted multiple awards and grants. Members have conducted research surveys and national practice pattern studies, and have collected and disseminated information on clinical protocols, research funding opportunities, and fellowships in neurosurgical oncology. Guidelines for brain tumor treatment and for neuro-oncology fellowships for surgeons have been written by Section committees. Studies presented orally at Section meetings, 1999–2002, had a remarkably high rate of full publication compared to other meetings – 73% actuarial at 4 years after presentation. Finally, nationwide in-hospital mortality rates for craniotomy for malignant glioma have fallen from 8 to 2% during the Section’s existence. These data suggest that the Section’s goals of educating all surgeons in neurosurgical oncology are being successfully met. A bibliography of secondary sources on the history of brain tumor surgery is appended.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rosenblum M: How the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors was formed. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Spring 2000: 15, 2000
Garretson HD: Utilization of resources for the maintenance of excellence in neurological surgery. The 1988 10. American Association of Neurological Surgeons presidential address. J Neurosurg 69: 815–825, 1988
Rosenblum M: Chairman’s message. Joint Section on Tumors Newsletter April 1991: 1–3, 1991
Syllabi of the Joint Section on Tumors. AANS/CNS, Park Ridge, IL, n.d. [1991?]
Warnick R: The AANS Abstract Review Process - Everything You Always Wanted To Know, But Were Afraid To Ask. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Spring 1999: 8, 1999
Stiles CD: Cancer of the nervous system. Review of an AACR special conference in cancer research with the Joint Section on Tumors of the AANS/CNS (San Diego, CA, June 7–11, 1997). Biochim Biophys Acta 1377: R1–R10, 1998
Bernstein M, Rutka J: Brain tumor protocols in North America. J Neurooncol 17: 231–251, 1993
Bigner D: Moses Stephen (Steve) Mahaley Jr, MD, PhD. Joint Section on Tumors Newsletter September 1992: 1–2, 1992
Mahaley MS, Jr.: Neuro-oncology index and review (adult primary brain tumors). Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy. J Neurooncol 11: 85–147, 1991
Asher AL: The Select Review in Neuro-Oncology. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Spring 2000: 14–15, 2000
Bernstein M, Berger MS (ed): Neuro-Oncology: the Essentials. Thieme Medical Publishers, New York, 2000
Walsh JW: Neuro-oncology fellowships. Joint Section on Tumors Newsletter April 1991: 6, 1991
Bernstein M, Rutka J: Neuro-oncology fellowships in North America. J Neurooncol 18: 61–68, 1994
Couldwell WT, Allis M: Neuro-oncology fellowships in North America. J Neurooncol 41: 89–94, 1999
Couldwell WT: Development of neuro-oncology fellowship guidelines. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Fall 1999: 18, 1999
McDermott M: Awards overview. Tumor News (AANS/ CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Fall 2003: 3, 2003
Chandler WF: Joint Section on Tumors Executive Comittee Minutes, Vancouver, British Columbia, October 4, 1993. Joint Section on Tumors Newsletter March 1994: 1–2, 1994
Black PM: Chairman’s address. Joint Section on Tumors Newsletter Spring 1995: 1, 1995
Liau L: Research subcommittee report. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) 5–6, 2003
Warnick ER, Raffel C, Glick RP: Neuro-oncology research opportunities in North America: results of a survey by the AANS/CNS section on tumors. J Neuro-oncol 61: 197–201, 2003
Cell phone statement response letter. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter)Fall 2001: 6, 2001
Guyatt G, Rennie D: Users’ Guides To The Medical Literature: A Manual For Evidence-Based Clinical Practice. AMA Press, Chicago, 2002
Rock JP, Rosenblum M: Guidelines Committee Report. Joint Section on Tumors Newsletter Fall 1995: 1995
Bernstein M: Low-grade gliomas: in search of evidence-based treatment. Clin Neurosurg 44: 315–330, 1997
Low-grade Glioma Guidelines Team: Practice parameters in adults with suspected or known supratentorial nonoptic pathway low-grade glioma. Neurosurg Focus 4: Article 10, 1998
Rock JP, Haines S, Recht L, Bernstein M, Sawaya R, Mikkelsen T, Loeffler J: Practice parameters for the management of single brain metastasis. Neurosurg Focus 9: 2, 2000
Warnick RE, Longmore LM, Paul CA, Bode LA: Post-operative management of patients after stereotactic biopsy: results of a survey of the AANS/CNS section on tumors and a single institution study. J Neurooncol 62: 289–296, 2003
Mahaley MS Jr, Mettlin C, Natarajan N, Laws ER, Jr., Peace BB: National survey of patterns of care for brain-tumor patients. J Neurosurg 71: 826–836, 1989
Mahaley MS, Jr., Mettlin C, Natarajan N, Laws ER, Jr., Peace BB: Analysis of patterns of care of brain tumor patients in the United States: a study of the Brain Tumor Section of the AANS and the CNS and the Commission on Cancer of the ACS. Clin Neurosurg 36: 347–352, 1990
Engelhard HH: Brain Tumor Patient Care Evaluation study. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter)Fall 2000: 18, 2000
Anderson FA, Jr.: Glioma Outcomes Project Advisory Board: The Glioma Outcomes Project: a resource for measuring and improving glioma outcomes. Neurosurg Focus 4: 8, 1998
Laws ER, Parney IF, Huang W, Anderson F, Morris AM, Asher A, Lillehei KO, Bernstein M, Brem H, Sloan A, Berger MS, Chang S: Survival following surgery and prognostic factors for recently diagnosed malignant glioma: data from the Glioma Outcomes Project. J Neurosurg 99: 467–473, 2003
Laws ER, Shaffrey ME, Morris A, Anderson FA, Jr.: Surgical management of intracranial gliomas-does radical resection improve outcome? Acta Neurochir Suppl 85: 47–53, 2003
Chang SM, Barker FG, 2nd, Schmidt MH, Sloan AE, Kasper R, Phillips L, Shih K, Hariharan S, Berger MS: Clinical trial participation among patients enrolled in the Glioma Outcomes Project. Cancer 94: 2681–2687, 2002
Chang SM, Parney IF, McDermott M, Barker FG, 2nd, Schmidt MH, Huang W, Laws ER, Jr., Lillehei KO, Bernstein M, Brem H, Sloan AE, Berger M: Perioperative complications and neurological outcomes of first and second craniotomies among patients enrolled in the Glioma Outcome Project. J Neurosurg 98: 1175–1181, 2003
McDermott MW: A close look at Section membership. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Fall 1999: 14, 1999
Lang FF, Jr.: Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Spring 2000: 16, 2000
Barnett G: Membership benefits of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Fall 2003: 6, 2003
Morantz RA, Walsh JW (ed): Brain Tumors: A Comprehensive Text. M. Dekker, New York, 1993
Sundaresan N (ed): Tumors of the Spine: Diagnosis and Clinical Management. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1990
Warnick R: Secretary/Treasurer ‘s Report. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Fall 2003: 6, 2003
Orrico KO: Washington update. Tumor News (AANS/ CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Fall 2000: 6, 2000
Greenblatt SH: Harvey Cushing and the issue of surgical subspecialization: an historical perspective. Surg Neurol 47: 412–413, 1997
Greenblatt SH: Harvey Cushing ‘s paradigmatic contribution to neurosurgery and the evolution of his thoughts about specialization. Bull Hist Med 77: 789–822, 2003
Canale DJ: William Osler and “the special field of neurological surgery”. J Neurosurg 70: 759–766, 1989
Laws ER: “Schools” of neurosurgery: their development and evolution. In: Greenblatt SH, Dagi TF, Epstein MH (eds) The History of Neurosurgery in its Scientific and Professional Contexts. AANS, Park Ridge, IL, 1997, pp 519–528
Sachs E: Neurosurgery recognized as a specialty. In: Fifty Years of Neurosurgery. Vantage Press, New York, 1958, pp 68–78
Wilkins RH (ed): History of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Founded in 1931 as The Harvey Cushing Society. AANS, Park Ridge, IL, 1981
Hauber CH, Philips CA: The evolution of organized neurological surgery in the United States. Neurosurgery 36: 814–824; discussion 824–826, 1995
Barrow DL, Kondziolka D, Laws ER, Jr., Traynelis VC (eds): Fifty Years Of Neurosurgery: Golden Anniversary Of The Congress Of Neurological Surgeons. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2000
Thompson JM (ed): History Of The Congress Of Neurological Surgeons, 1951–1991. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1992
Smith FP: Archival correspondence regarding the origin of the Harvey Cushing Society: the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. J Neurosurg 81: 950–955, 1994
Rosen G: The specialization of medicine with particular reference to ophthalmology. Froben Press, New York, 1944
Fye WB: American Cardiology: The History of a Specialty and its College. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, 1996
Bynum CL, Nutton V (eds): The Emergence of Modern Cardiology (Supplement 5 to Medical History). Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London, 1985
Cooter R: Surgery and Society In Peace And War: Orthopaedics and the Organization of Modern Medicine, 1880–1948. Macmillan, London, 1993
King LS: Medicine in the USA: historical vignettes. XXI. Medical practice: specialization. Jama 251: 1333–1338, 1984
Stevens R: Medical Practice in Modern England: The impact of Specialization and State Medicine. Yale University Press, New Haven, 1966
Rothstein W: American Physicians in the Nineteenth Century: From Sects to Science. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1972
Lanska DJ: The role of technology in neurologic specialization in America. Neurology 48: 1722–1727, 1997
Yasargil MG: The history of optical instruments and microneurosurgery, in Barrow DL, Kondziolka D, Laws ER, Jr., Traynelis VC (eds): Fifty Years Of Neurosurgery: Golden Anniversary Of The Congress Of Neurological Surgeons. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2000, pp 105–142
Warnick RE: AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Fourth Biennial Satellite Symposium. Tumor News (AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Newsletter) Fall 2000: 12, 2000
von Elm E, Costanza MC, Walder B, Tramer MR: More insight into the fate of biomedical meeting abstracts: a systematic review. BMC Med Res Methodol 3: 12, 2003
Scherer RW, Dickersin K, Langenberg P: Full publication of results initially presented in abstracts. A meta-analysis. Jama 272: 158–162, 1994
Wang JC, Yoo S, Delamarter RB: The publication rates of presentations at major Spine Specialty Society meetings (NASS, SRS, ISSLS). Spine 24: 425–427, 1999
Marx WF, Cloft HJ, Do HM, Kallmes DF: The fate of neuroradiologic abstracts presented at national meetings in 1993: rate of subsequent publication in peer-reviewed, indexed journals. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 20: 1173–1177, 1999
De Bellefeuille C, Morrison CA, Tannock IF: The fate of abstracts submitted to a cancer meeting: factors which inffuence presentation and subsequent publication. Ann Oncol 3: 187–191, 1992
Salcman M: Historical development of surgery for glial tumors. J Neurooncol 42: 195–204, 1999
Ciric I, Ammirati M, Vick N, Mikhael M: Supratentorial gliomas: surgical considerations and immediate postoperative results. Gross total resection versus partial resection. Neurosurgery 21: 21–26, 1987
Ammirati M, Vick N, Liao YL, Ciric I, Mikhael M: Effect of the extent of surgical resection on survival and quality of life in patients with supratentorial glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas. Neurosurgery 21: 201–206, 1987
Salcman M, Kaplan RS, Ducker TB, Abdo H, Montgomery E: Effect of age and reoperation on survival in the combined modality treatment of malignant astrocytoma. Neurosurgery 10: 454–463, 1982
Laws ER, Jr.: Presidential address: Tradition in neurosurgery: doing well what has been done before. Neurosurgery 16: 739–753, 1985
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barker, F.G., Linskey, M.E. History of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Tumors and Preface to the 20th Anniversary Journal of Neuro-Oncology Special Issue. J Neurooncol 69, 1–18 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NEON.0000041868.00906.0a
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NEON.0000041868.00906.0a