Massimiliano Spaliviero, MD, FACS
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Areas of Expertise
Conditions I Treat
- Prostate cancer and conditions
My Specialties
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Robotic surgery
- Image-guided surgery
Get to Know Me
I am a board-certified urologic surgeon. This means I am a doctor who treats diseases of the urinary system, especially prostate cancer. I see patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) locations in Nassau and Commack on Long Island. I perform surgery at the Josie Robertson Surgery Center in New York City.
Many people feel scared and worried when they first come to see me after finding out they have prostate cancer. They usually ask if the cancer affects how long they will live, how it can be treated, and what life will be like during treatment. I listen carefully to make sure I understand their concerns.
To answer these questions, I look closely at each person’s test results. These include a PSA blood test, MRI scans, and what the prostate tissue looks like under a microscope. Sometimes, I order more tests, including special PET scans or extra blood work, to see if the cancer has spread or is growing quickly.
Based on all the test results, I place the cancer into a risk group: low, medium, or high. These groups help us understand how serious cancer is. Then, the patient and I talk about the best treatment plan based on their results and risk level.
Some people with low-risk cancer or less aggressive medium-risk cancer may not need treatment right away. Instead, we may choose something called “active surveillance.” This means we watch the cancer closely with regular checkups and tests. This helps patients avoid treatment side effects and enjoy a better quality of life.
For people with higher-risk cancer who need treatment and choose surgery, I usually do robotic laparoscopic surgery to remove the prostate. This method helps protect the nerves that control bladder and sexual function as much as possible.
If surgery is not a good option, I work with our team of experts including urologic oncologists and radiation oncologists at MSK to come up with the best plan. This might include radiation therapy, special medicines, or other targeted treatments. Our goal is to offer cancer treatment that respects each person’s needs, values, and choices. I am proud to be part of MSK, where we focus on giving our patients the best, kindest care while also supporting fairness, respect, and inclusion for everyone — patients, staff, and faculty.
I have done over 1,000 MRI-fusion biopsies of the prostate in the past 9 years. The MRI scan of the prostate helps see if there are any spots that look suspicious. During the biopsy, a computer “fuses” the real-time ultrasound images with the MRI images. This helps me collect tiny samples of prostate tissue from the exact spots seen on the MRI.
I work on new ways to find important prostate cancers more accurately while avoiding false alarms and unnecessary treatments. These efforts can help improve results of cancer treatment, quality of life, and even lower healthcare costs. At MSK, I am part of one of the most accomplished groups in prostate cancer care and research in the world. We share ideas and help with projects that improve how we find and treat prostate cancer, especially in people with medium-risk disease. I also work on research and clinical trials to find new options and better ways to treat prostate cancer.
I have written many scientific articles and reviews, and I help review articles for top urology journals since 1996. I have also helped review national guidelines about prostate cancer treatment. I also enjoy teaching. I help train the next generation of doctors in urologic oncology through the fellowship and educational programs at MSK. I support each doctor’s unique learning style, goals, and interests.
When I am not at the hospital, I like reading, playing guitar, and swimming. But most of all, I love cooking and traveling with my amazing family and friends.
I'm a urologic surgeon, which is a doctor with special training in surgery on the genitourinary (jeh-nih-toh-YOOR-ih-nayr-ee) (GU) system. This includes the bladder, kidney, penis, prostate, and testicles.
- Associate Attending Physician
Conditions I Treat
- Prostate cancer and conditions
My Specialties
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Robotic surgery
- Image-guided surgery
- Image-guided biopsy
- Prostatectomy
- Active surveillance
- Endoscopy and endoscopic procedures
Education
- MD, University of Milan
Residencies
- Urology, University of Brescia, Italy
- Urology, University of Oklahoma
Fellowships
- Research Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Urology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Endourology, University of Oklahoma
- Urologic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- American Board of Urology
Awards and Honors
- Best Student/Resident Paper, 28th ASLMS Annual Conference (2008)
- Best Urology Scientific Paper, 18th SLS Annual Meeting and Endo Expo (2009)
- Best of the AUA Moderated Poster Session (2013)
- Second Place, December SUO Meeting Fellow/Resident Poster Awards (2014)
- Best of the AUA Moderated Poster Session (2017)
Insurance Information
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In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
TBD
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
City Employee Health Plans (Gold and Gold Care)
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
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If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.
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Contact and Location
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Colleagues
Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.
Clinical Trials
Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.
You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.
Search clinical trialsResearch and Publications
- Gill I.S., Remer E.M. Hasan W.A., Strzempkowski B., Spaliviero M., Steinberg A.P., Kaouk J.H., Desai M.M., Novick A.C.: Renal Cryoablation: Outcomes at 3 years. J Urol 2005, 173: 1903-1907. PMID: 15879772
- Spaliviero M, Dalbagni G, Bochner BH, Poon BY, Donahue1 TF, Al-Ahmadie HA, Taylor JM, Meeks JJ, Huang H, Sjoberg DD, Donat SM, Herr HW: Clinical Outcome In Patients With T1 Micropapillary Urothelial Carcinoma Of The Bladder. J Urol 2014, 192: 702-707. PMID: 24603101
- Harmsen S, Huang R, Wall MA, Karabeber H, Samii JM, Spaliviero M, O’Connor R, White JR, Monette S, Saborowski M, Pitter K, Holland E, Singer S, Lowe SW, Blasberg RG, Kircher MF.: Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Nanostatrs for High-Precision Cancer Imaging. Sci Transl Med 2015, 7: 271ra7. PMID: 25609167
- Spaliviero M, Harmsen S, Huang R, Wall MA, Andreou C, Eastham JA, Touijer KA, Scardino PT, Kircher MF: Detection of Lymph Node Metastases with SERRS Nanoparticles. Mol Imaging Biol 2016, 18: 677-685. PMID: 26943129
- Spaliviero M, Power NE, Murray KS, Sjoberg DD, Benfante NE, Bernstein ML, Wren J, Russo P, Coleman JA: Intravenous Mannitol Versus Placebo During Partial Nephrectomy in Patients with Normal Kidney Function: A Double-Blind, Clinically-Integrated, Randomized Trial. Eur Urol 2018, 73: 53-59. PMID: 28822586
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Spaliviero’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
See all on PubMedPatient Reviews
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Disclosures
Members of the MSK Community often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community. These activities outside of MSK further our mission, provide productive collaborations, and promote the practical application of scientific discoveries.
MSK requires doctors, faculty members, and leaders to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public. Not all disclosed interests and relationships present conflicts of interest. MSK reviews all disclosed interests and relationships to assess whether a conflict of interest exists and whether formal COI management is needed.
Massimiliano Spaliviero discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
No disclosures meeting criteria for time period
If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.
The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.
This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2024 through disclosure submission in spring 2025). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.
Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at ecoi@mskcc.org.