Brain Tumor Open Surgeries
- Brain tumors can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The surgery is the usual treatment for most brain tumors.
- Treatment for brain tumors depends on a number of factors including the type, location and size of the tumor as well as the patient’s age and general health.
Craniotomy:
- The neurosurgeon makes an opening in the skull to remove the brain tumor.
- Whenever possible, your doctor may remove as much of the tumor as possible. Partial removal also helps to relieve symptoms by reducing pressure on the brain and reduces the amount of tumor to be treated by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Inoperable tumors:
- Your doctor may do only a biopsy. A small piece of the tumor is removed so that a pathologist can examine it under a microscope to determine the type of cells it contains. This helps your doctor decide which treatment to use.
- Sometimes, a biopsy is done with a needle. Doctors use a special head frame (like a halo) and CT scans or MRI to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor. The surgeon makes a small hole in the skull and then guides a needle to the tumor. Using this technique to do a biopsy or for treatment is called stereotaxic.
Recommended length of stay & the period need to heal will depend on the specific features of the case & the treatment plan according to doctors’ advice.