Bradley Lega, M.D.

Meet Dr. Lega

UT Southwestern Medical Center neurosurgeon Bradley Lega, M.D., specializes in the evaluation and surgical treatment of brain tumors and epilepsy. 

As the surgical leader of UT Southwestern Medical Center’s comprehensive epilepsy program, one of the top programs in the world, Dr. Lega is recognized as a national expert in using stereoelectroencephalography, or stereo EEG to locate the origin of epileptic seizures in the brain. This can then help determine if a patient is a candidate for surgical treatment.  

Revolutionizing Treatment Using Emerging Technologies

Through experience acquired through hundreds of epilepsy and tumor cases, Dr. Lega tailors his mapping and treatment strategies to the unique circumstances of each patient. This includes using new, less invasive techniques along with traditional surgical approaches.

“It’s an exciting time to be working in this field,” Dr. Lega says. “New tools, such as stereo EEG and NeuroPace, are giving options to patients who may have previously been told surgical treatments weren’t available to them. And laser interstitial therapy (LITT) has given us a less invasive option that is ideally suited to treating some patients with epilepsy and tumors.”

LITT is only available at UT Southwestern through Southwest Health Resources, and Dr. Lega is the only surgeon in North Texas who provides this therapy to patients with brain tumors and epilepsy.  

“Laser therapy requires an expert team working together, and the close collaborative environment at UT Southwestern is really necessary for these complex cases. Brain tumors are often linked to seizures, and our integrated team provides the best approach for their treatment.”

This integrated approach also helps protect the brain’s vital functions, including memory, during a patient's treatment for tumors and epilepsy.

“Our team at UT Southwestern works with a group of leading centers across the country to understand memory and other cognitive functions, such as language processing. Our work has led to exciting breakthroughs,” Dr. Lega says.

Dr. Lega has been widely recognized for his contributions to understanding how the brain creates memories. “One day, we hope to restore memory function to patients in whom tumors or epilepsy have affected their brain. For now, this work has given me a deep understanding of how best to preserve these vital functions for patients who need surgery,” Dr. Lega says.

“With the tools we have at UT Southwestern, the expertise of our team, and our experience as one of the busiest centers in the country, I am proud to say that the care we provide patients with these conditions is truly top notch.”