No age group is free from brain tumours: Expert

With rapid advances in medical technology, the early diagnosis and treatment of once-dreaded brain tumour has become safe and effective. In a chat with DNA, Dr Balaji Pai, consultant neurosurgeon at HCG, a cancer care institute in the city, delves into the various aspects of the disease and the
treatments that need to be taken.
 
What are the symptoms of brain tumour?
The commonest symptom of a tumour is headache. Not all headaches are suggestive of brain tumour. But early morning headaches, associated with projectile vomiting should be investigated. Seizure is another common manifestation of slow growing brain tumours. Seizure appearing for the first time in an adult needs to be investigated thoroughly. Nerve dysfunction and neurological deficits may occur depending on the site of the brain tumour. In small children who cannot complain of headache and projectile vomiting, difficulty in walking and bumping into objects are suggestive. Patients with these problems should consult a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
 
Which age group is most affected by brain tumours?
No age group is spared from brain tumours. However, different tumours are more common with different age groups. Tumours of the posterior fossa (hind brain) are common in children, Meningiomas (tumours of the meninges) is common in females, gliomas (malignant intracerebral tumours) are seen in different ages, secondary brain tumours are common in the geriatric group etc.

How can a brain tumour be diagnosed?
Imaging modalities have advanced so much that diagnosis of a brain tumour is relatively easy today. CT and MRI can easily diagnose a brain tumour, its size, site, vascularity and the anatomy of adjacent structures.
 
What are the treatment modalities for brain tumour?
Surgery is the treatment of choice for most brain tumours. Whether benign or malignant, a tumour in the cranium is occupying space and causing pressure on the adjacent brain and hence needs to be removed. Some surgeons may prefer to wait in the case of small sized slow growing tumours. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are adjuvant treatment modalities for malignant brain tumours and some benign tumours. Radio surgery/gamma knife is also a type of extremely focused radiotherapy and is used as an adjuvant therapy. It is used as a primary modality in surgically inaccessible tumours.
 
Is brain tumour removal safe? Are there side effects?
With the advancement in medical technology and availability of high grade operative equipment, surgery for brain tumour has become very safe. Areas considered inaccessible earlier can be reached today and tumours from these areas are removed safely. However, sometimes tumours may be involving areas which are concerned with movement of parts of the body or the tumour may be enmeshed in nerves. Although, the surgeon makes all attempts at removal of these tumours, without giving the patient any deficits, there are situations when the patient may get post operative deficits. However, nowadays such instances are uncommon.