Toral Patel, M.D.

Meet Dr. Patel

Neurosurgeon Offering Innovative Treatments for Brain Tumors

Doctors now have more options than ever for treating brain tumors, such as gliomas. The techniques and technology used yesterday might no longer be the best choice of care today. As both a researcher and neurosurgeon, Toral Patel, M.D., is uniquely experienced to offer state-of-the-art care for patients with both malignant and benign brain tumors.

“As a neurosurgeon at an academic medical center, I have the opportunity to offer my patients advanced surgical care and innovative treatments. I’m also able to engage in research with colleagues. This combination supports our goal of changing the way we treat brain tumors and improving outcomes for patients,” Dr. Patel says.

An example of the advanced surgical techniques that Dr. Patel employs is the use of brain-mapping strategies to remove tumors in eloquent locations. Utilizing these techniques, tumors can be safely removed from critical language and motor regions of the brain. It’s a procedure that few surgeons can offer, but one that she does frequently.

Another emerging area that excites Dr. Patel is laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for treating brain tumors. With this technology, a small laser is passed into the brain to thermally ablate or burn a tumor away. It’s particularly useful for brain metastases, deep gliomas, and radiation necrosis. Previously, the treatment options for these lesions were severely limited; LITT is a promising therapy for these patients. 

Dr. Patel’s research centers on mechanisms for improving drug delivery to brain tumors. In the central nervous system, a barrier prevents chemotherapies from effectively moving across the blood vessels and into the tumor tissue. Her efforts focus on using nanoparticles to deliver drugs by bypassing the blood-brain barrier so that chemotherapies can more adequately get to the tumor sites.

Having trained at Johns Hopkins, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Patel has learned from some of the top surgeons in the world. Now, as one of the newest members of UT Southwestern’s Neurosurgery team, she brings these perspectives to her treatment of patients.

While advancements in the field of neurosurgery motivate Dr. Patel, helping patients navigate an often scary diagnosis and return to their normal lives is what she finds most fulfilling.

“To take patients through a tough moment in their life – and get them back on their feet – that’s the best part of my job.”