Italian Centers Show Gaps In Brain Tumor Seizure Care

What was studied

This study looked at how specialized Italian neuroscience and neuro-rehabilitation centers organize care for people with brain tumour-related epilepsy. Brain tumour-related epilepsy means seizures linked to a primary brain tumour or a brain metastasis. The researchers used a national survey across the Italian Network of Neuroscience and Neuro-rehabilitation Research Institutes.

Ten centers took part. The survey, done from April to June 2024 with follow-up validation in December 2025, asked about staffing, equipment, clinical pathways, and management strategies. The results describe what services were available and how care was organized at these centers.

What they found

All 10 centers reported using a multidisciplinary approach, meaning patients may be seen by more than one type of specialist. But there were clear differences between centers in team makeup, expertise, and resources. Most had core specialists available, but pediatric expertise was often lacking. MRI was widely available, while PET scans were less consistently available. Advanced neurophysiological monitoring and blood level testing for antiseizure medicines were not available everywhere.

A major finding was that no center had a care pathway made specifically for brain tumour-related epilepsy, even though centers had pathways for brain tumours and for epilepsy separately. Neuropsychological assessment and checks for other health problems were not consistently integrated into care.

Limits of the evidence

This was a survey of only 10 centers in one Italian research network, so it may not reflect care in other hospitals or countries. The study describes services and organization, but it does not test which approach is linked to better seizure control, quality of life, or survival.

Because the data are descriptive and based on center reports, the study cannot show whether differences in resources are associated with differences in patient outcomes. The abstract also does not give details about patient ages, numbers of patients treated, or how often each service was actually used.

For families and caregivers

For families, this study suggests that care for brain tumour-related epilepsy can vary even across highly specialized centers. That may affect how easily patients can access certain specialists, testing, or supportive services.

The study also points to a gap: care is often split between brain tumour services and epilepsy services, without one dedicated pathway for this combined condition. This may support efforts to make care more coordinated, but the study does not show whether a standardized pathway improves outcomes.

What to watch next

Future studies could examine patient outcomes in relation to different models of care, including the introduction of dedicated clinical pathways for brain tumour-related epilepsy.

Terms in this summary

brain tumour-related epilepsy

Seizures linked to a primary brain tumour or cancer spread to the brain.

multidisciplinary approach

Care provided by a team of different health professionals working together.

clinical pathway

A planned, organized process for how patients are assessed, treated, and followed over time.

MRI

A scan that uses magnets to make detailed pictures of the brain.

PET

A scan that can provide information about tissue activity and may be used in brain tumour care.

neurophysiological monitoring

Tests that measure brain activity.

antiseizure medication level assessment

Blood testing to measure how much seizure medicine is in the body.

neuropsychological assessment

Testing of thinking, memory, attention, and other brain-related skills.