What are brain tumours?   

Brain tumors are common in all age groups.  Brain tumor peaks can be seen in pediatric age group (5 to 10 years), adult age (20 to 40 years) and then geriatric age group (> 60 years) but it can be seen in all ages. Brain tumors are of two types, benign and malignant. Benign tumors are not infiltrative but expand in size with time and produce neurological deficit due to compression on brain. Malignant variety is dangerous as it infiltrates to adjoining brain tissue rapidly and causes damage.  Treatment of brain tumors depend upon age of patient, location and size of tumors. In expert surgical hands, brain tumors can be excised fully and patient’s life can be saved successfully.

Symptoms: Most common symptoms of brain tumors are early morning headaches, blurring of vision, nausea, vomiting, seizures, weakness of one side of body, vertigo and recent personality or behavior changes. 

Investigations:  CT Head can be done. MRI Brain is a better investigation. Higher investigations are used less frequently like PET Scan, SPECT scan etc

Stereotactic Biopsy: When brain tumors are deep seated and difficult to excise, then small part of brain tumor is taken out for biopsy so that further plan for tumor can be made. This procedure is done by wearing specialized head frame and under local anesthesia. This procedure is done by making less than 1 cm whole in brain. This procedure is safe in expert hands with > 95% success rates.

Treatment: Most important treatment for brain tumor is surgical excision of tumor.  Some tumors are also managed with medications, depending upon type and location of tumor.   Brain tumor tissue after surgery is send for Biopsy for grading and prognostication. Depending upon grade of tumor, oral chemotherapy and radiation is advised.

Prognosis:  Survival after surgery depends upon extent of surgical removal of tumor, site of tumor, pathological grading of tumor, age and other comorbidities.  Early and maximum safe excision of tumor carries best outcomes for patient life.

MY EXPERTISE: I have trained myself from various national/international hospitals to learn use of intra-operative ultrasonography for total/maximum excision of brain tumors. I am using routinely awake craniotomy, cortical stimulators, CUSA and many other instruments for better outcomes of patients.