Roberto Brandão in Baltimore: Surgical Oncology and Complex Tumor Removal

Roberto Brandão is a surgical oncologist based in Baltimore who specializes in the removal of complex and recurrent solid tumors, with particular expertise in pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer. His practice operates within the Maryland medical system and draws patients from across the Mid-Atlantic region seeking second opinions and definitive surgical management of malignancies that have been deemed unresectable or too advanced elsewhere.

What Brandão actually does

Surgical oncology is a narrow field within surgery focused on the complete removal of cancerous tissue while preserving as much healthy organ function as possible. Brandão's work centers on tumors of the pancreas, liver, and bile ducts—among the most technically demanding resections in surgery because these organs sit deep in the abdomen and intertwine with major blood vessels. A pancreatic cancer resection, for example, may involve removing not only the tumor but portions of surrounding organs and reconstruction of the digestive system. Brandão's patients often arrive after conventional oncology teams have concluded that surgery is not possible, or after a first surgery has failed to remove all disease.

His practice accepts referrals from primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, and other surgical specialists. Unlike general surgeons who handle appendicitis and hernia repair, or trauma surgeons who manage acute injury, surgical oncologists spend most of their clinical time on complex elective resections scheduled weeks or months in advance.

Procedures and scope

Brandão performs pancreatectomy (partial or total pancreas removal), hepatic resection (removal of liver segments), and Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy), in which the pancreatic head, part of the small intestine, and the gallbladder are removed and the remaining organs reconnected. He also handles revision surgery—going in after an earlier operation to remove cancer that was missed or has recurred.

The complexity of these cases means operative time often exceeds six hours, and recovery typically involves a hospital stay of one to two weeks followed by several months of outpatient monitoring. Many patients will also receive chemotherapy before or after surgery.

Pricing for major cancer surgery is not set at the individual surgeon level but determined by hospital billing and insurance contracts. Confirm costs and pre-authorization requirements with your insurance plan and the billing department of the facility where surgery will occur; deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums generally apply regardless of surgeon.

How Brandão compares to other Baltimore surgical oncologists

Baltimore is home to the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital, both of which employ multiple surgical oncologists and offer multidisciplinary tumor boards where surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiologists jointly evaluate whether a patient is a candidate for resection. A surgical oncologist at Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland will have the backing of a large academic cancer program and may have more published research in their specialty.

Brandão operates within the Maryland healthcare landscape and often collaborates with Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland pathologists and radiologists, but the practical difference for the patient is mainly institutional: larger academic centers may offer clinical trials or access to newer chemotherapy agents, while Brandão's practice may provide shorter appointment lead times or a less hierarchical consultation process. The choice between a solo or small-group surgical oncologist and a large academic center often depends on whether you prioritize cutting-edge research access or continuity of care with the same surgeon.

If your oncologist or primary care physician has already recommended a specific surgeon, ask them why; that recommendation reflects their knowledge of that surgeon's outcomes and personality, which cannot be distilled into public data.

Who should seek Brandão and who should not

This practice is appropriate for patients with diagnosis of pancreatic, liver, or bile duct cancer who are medically fit for major surgery and whose imaging suggests the tumor can be removed. It is also appropriate for patients who have had surgery elsewhere and want evaluation for additional resection if cancer has recurred. Conversely, if you have been told your cancer is metastatic (spread to distant organs) or if you are not a surgical candidate due to heart or lung disease, a surgical oncologist is not the right starting point; your medical oncologist and primary care physician will direct you to chemotherapy or palliative care.

The first consultation

Bring all recent imaging (CT, MRI, or PET scans) on disc or have your previous hospital or oncology center send them to Brandão's office before your appointment. Bring a list of current medications and any surgical history. The consultation typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour and includes a physical exam, review of imaging, and frank discussion of whether surgery is feasible and likely to remove all disease. Brandão will explain the operation, risks (which for major cancer surgery include bleeding, infection, and pancreatic fistula, in which digestive fluid leaks from the surgical site), recovery timeline, and whether chemotherapy before or after surgery is recommended.

Bring a family member if possible. Ask about operative mortality rate specifically for your procedure at his facility, and ask about the percentage of his patients who require reoperation within 30 days due to complications.

Hours, location, and logistics

Confirm current hours and parking with the facility. Surgical oncology practices are typically office-based; surgery itself takes place at a hospital operating room. Brandão's consultations are scheduled, not walk-in. Request an appointment through your referring physician or by calling the practice directly.

Surgical oncology is an essential but specialized field; Baltimore's position as a major medical hub ensures access to this level of care, but demand for experienced surgeons in complex cancer removal exceeds supply.