Dr. S. Ramesh
Neuro Surgeon, Consultant, Kamineni Hospitals, Hyderabad.
Incidence of brain tumours are on the rise. Globally around 3.5 lakh people die yearly due to brain tumours. According to a study, the incidence of brain tumours in India ranges from around five to 10 cases per 1,00,000 population. Brain tumours can affect all age groups (children, adult and old ages) irrespective of socio economic status.
Exact causes of the brain tumours are not established, many theories have been proposed. Brain tumours can be benign or aggressive i.e, malignant tumours.
A brain tumour can cause various problems based on location. Different parts of brain have different functions. Brain tumours can cause from headache, seizures, paralysis of upper, lower limbs and ultimately also lead to death. Early detection, followed by treatment usually improves over all outcomes.
Presentation of brain tumours depends upon the location and extent of the tumour. Symptoms also depend upon rate of growth of tumour and raised pressure inside the brain. Symptoms which are alarming severe headache not relieved by common medicines, headache with persisting vomitings, altered sensorium, confusion for petty things daily routine, hearing loss, vision loss, hormonal disturbances, behavioural changes, seizures, loss of balance, loss of speech and weakness of limbs. All investigations i.e., CT scan, MRI scan(various applications), EEG, under one roof helps in faster evaluation of disease.
Multimodality treatment of brain tumour includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, neuro rehabilitation has significantly improved survival rate and also with good quality of life thereafter.Most of the brain tumours require surgeries, in few cases they can be managed conservatively with medicines. Not every brain tumours are alike. Hence treatment of every tumour depends upon the various factors like age, location, size, stage, etc of tumours. Treatment should be individualised.
Surgery always aims at near total removal of tumours with maintaining normal anatomy. Total excision of tumours may not be possible always, due to infiltrative nature of the tumour and close proximity of tumour to vessels/ nerves. Higher the tumour residual, higher is the chances of recurrence. Based on the nature of disease, patient may require simple follow up, radiotherapy/ chemotherapy.
In earlier days aggressive attempt to remove tumours for better survival was leading to higher disability. Now a days with advanced equipment like Microscopes, Endoscopes, Navigation, sophisticated instruments, Stereotaxy and Intra op monitoring made excision easier with less side effects to patient and increasing survival rate. The ongoing progress in medical science and technology has made treatment more advanced and chances of a patient resuming a normal routine are getting higher. We do awake craniotomy surgery for tumours in eloquent areas. We also do trans nasal surgeries when required.
We have state of art equipment for brain surgeries. A holistic team approach of neurosurgeon, neuro-anaesthesia, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, neuro rehabilitation team made many patients and their families’ blossom with happiness.
Management of brain tumours requires patience of the patient and emotional support from the family members to handle physical or mental stress during the treatment process. Our holistic approach toward disease helps patients and family members to maintain positive attitude for healing.
Brain tumour
Incidence of brain tumours are on the rise. Globally around 3.5 lakh people die yearly due to brain tumours. According to a study, the incidence of brain tumours in India ranges from around five to 10 cases per 1,00,000 population. Brain tumours can affect all age groups (children, adult and old ages) irrespective of socio economic status.
Exact causes of the brain tumours are not established, many theories have been proposed. Brain tumours can be benign or aggressive i.e, malignant tumours. A brain tumour can cause various problems based on location. Different parts of brain have different functions. Brain tumours can cause from headache, seizures, paralysis of upper, lower limbs and ultimately also lead to death. Early detection, followed by treatment usually improves over all outcomes.
Presentation of brain tumours depends upon the location and extent of the tumour. Symptoms also depend upon rate of growth of tumour and raised pressure inside the brain. Symptoms which are alarming severe headache not relieved by common medicines, headache with persisting vomitings, altered sensorium, confusion for petty things daily routine, hearing loss, vision loss, hormonal disturbances, behavioural changes, seizures, loss of balance, loss of speech and weakness of limbs.
All investigations i.e., CT scan, MRI scan(various applications), EEG, under one roof helps in faster evaluation of disease.Multimodality treatment of brain tumour includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, neuro rehabilitation has significantly improved survival rate and also with good quality of life thereafter.
Most of the brain tumours require surgeries, in few cases they can be managed conservatively with medicines. Not every brain tumours are alike. Hence treatment of every tumour depends upon the various factors like age, location, size, stage, etc of tumours. Treatment should be individualised.
Surgery always aims at near total removal of tumours with maintaining normal anatomy. Total excision of tumours may not be possible always, due to infiltrative nature of the tumour and close proximity of tumour to vessels/ nerves. Higher the tumour residual, higher is the chances of recurrence. Based on the nature of disease, patient may require simple follow up, radiotherapy/ chemotherapy.
In earlier days aggressive attempt to remove tumours for better survival was leading to higher disability. Now a days with advanced equipment like Microscopes, Endoscopes, Navigation, sophisticated instruments, Stereotaxy and Intra op monitoring made excision easier with less side effects to patient and increasing survival rate. The ongoing progress in medical science and technology has made treatment more advanced and chances of a patient resuming a normal routine are getting higher. We do awake craniotomy surgery for tumours in eloquent areas. We also do trans nasal surgeries when required.
We have state of art equipment for brain surgeries. A holistic team approach of neurosurgeon, neuro-anaesthesia, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, neuro rehabilitation team made many patients and their families’ blossom with happiness.
Management of brain tumours requires patience of the patient and emotional support from the family members to handle physical or mental stress during the treatment process. Our holistic approach toward disease helps patients and family members to maintain positive attitude for healing.
