Ho-ho-ho! Gather ’round, my jolly friends, for I have a tale that’s quite the brain-teaser, quite literally! ‘Twas the year 1984, a time when neon lights were bright and hair was big, that a group of wise elves—well, neurosurgeons, to be exact—came together to form what we now know as the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors. This merry band of brain buffs set out on a sleigh ride of science, aiming to sprinkle knowledge and cheer among those keen on neuro-oncology, the study of noggin’ and backbone tumors.

Now, this wasn’t just any old workshop; no, no, no! This was the very first national physicians’ professional organization dedicated to such a cause. And, by my white beard, they’ve been busy! Over the past 40 frosty years, they’ve been building toys of a different sort—foundations of knowledge, to be precise. They’ve hosted satellite meetings, much like the elves’ toy-making conferences, and even started the Journal of Neuro-Oncology, a tome filled with tales of surgical wizardry for brain and spine ailments.

These dedicated doc-elves have been advancing education, stirring the pot of research, and getting involved in clinical trials, all to make sure that those facing the Grinch of tumors have the best care possible. This review, my dear friends, is like a magical list checked twice, filled with the history, the challenges, and the twinkling opportunities that have shaped the Section on Tumors, all told with the wisdom of 17 past chair-elves who’ve steered the sleigh through four decades of discovery.

So, let’s raise our glasses of milk and cookies to these unsung heroes of the medical North Pole, and may their work continue to light up the lives of many, just like Rudolph’s shiny nose on a foggy Christmas Eve!