Surgical Techniques Used for Brain Tumor treatment

The brain is a complex orchestra where every part works together. This harmony creates the music of our lives and when brain tumor disrupts this harmony, causing problems.

Skilled surgeons use advanced techniques to remove the tumor which include Craniotomy, Neuroendoscopy, Stereotactic Surgery, Awake Brain Surgery, and Intraoperative MRI (iMRI), and keep the brain's delicate balance intact during surgery.

Surgery is the first treatment for most people with brain tumors, it's often the only treatment needed for some tumors.

If you want to learn how these techniques are beneficial in brain tumor surgery then read this article till the end.

What is Brain Tumor?

A brain tumor is an abnormal cell growth in or around the brain. It's a central nervous system tumor, along with spinal tumors. Brain tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous, and their growth rates vary.

Only about one-third are cancerous, but all can impact brain function and health if they grow too large. Primary tumors develop in the brain, while secondary tumors spread from elsewhere in the body.

Surgical Techniques Used for Brain Tumor Treatment

Here are the 5 Surgical Techniques

1. Craniotomy

A craniotomy involves surgically removing part of the skull bone to expose the brain and specialized tools remove the bone flap, which is temporarily taken out. After brain surgery, the bone flap is replaced.

2. Neuroendoscopy

Neuroendoscopy is a minimally invasive brain surgery method. It reaches areas traditional surgery can't. Surgeons remove tumors without large skull incisions. They use the mouth, nose, or small skull windows instead.

Neuroendoscopy uses an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera, and instruments that can take tissue samples or remove part or all of a brain tumor.

3. Awake Brain Surgery

Awake brain surgery is a procedure performed on the brain while awake. It treats some neurological conditions, like brain tumors or epileptic seizures.

Surgeons use it when tumors or seizure areas are near vision, movement, or speech control centers and you may need to be awake during surgery to answer questions and monitor brain activity.

4. Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)

Laser interstitial thermal therapy, or LiTT, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to destroy abnormal cells, like tumors or seizure-causing cells. This therapy is also called laser ablation surgery or stereotactic laser ablation. Sometimes it's referred to as MRI-guided laser ablation.

5. Intraoperative MRI (iMRI)

Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging creates brain images during surgery. Neurosurgeons use iMRI to guide tumor removal and epilepsy treatment.

Conclusion 

These surgical techniques are chosen based on tumor type, location, and size. They also depend on the patient's overall health and neurological status.

The goal is to remove as many tumors as possible. This helps preserve neurological function and improves the patient's quality of life.