The goal of surgery is to completely remove the tumor and obtain the tissue to make a final diagnosis which can help predict long-term outcomes. Removal of the tumor is important to prevent further growth which may cause worsening or irreversible damage.
In some cases, the tumor cannot be totally removed and radiation therapy or chemotherapy are also used when tumors are high-grade or when they recur. For tumors that are resistant to these therapies, new treatment options are under investigation.