Removal of a brain tumor is carried out in various ways. The choice of approach depends on the type of neoplasm, its location and size, the patient's age, and others. After diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of several methods.
Minimally invasive approaches (keyhole surgery) and innovative technologies (fMRI, HIFU) are used abroad to remove brain tumors.
Diagnosis before removal of a brain tumor
To properly remove a brain tumor, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis. There are about 125 types of neoplasms of this important organ, and the treatment for each of them is unique in many cases.
If a brain tumor is suspected, CT, PET, and MRI scans are prescribed. Based on the data obtained, a better approach to biopsy is planned, if necessary. The main approaches to biopsy include: craniotomy (removal of a part of the skull to access the brain), using a needle (taking a tissue sample in hard-to-reach places) and neuroendoscopy (using an endoscope). Also, spinal fluid is taken for analysis by means of a lumbar puncture.
Based on the tissue sample obtained, the pathologist determines the type of tumor and other information in order to select the most effective treatment plan. The cost of removing a brain tumor will become known only at this stage.
Surgical removal of a brain tumor
To plan brain surgery, neurosurgeons abroad use functional MRI performed a few days before the procedure. During an MRI scan, the patient is asked to perform simple tasks such as moving their arms and legs, counting in their head, or thinking about specific words. The new imaging procedure helps to create a functional "map" of the brain so as not to damage the most important parts.
In some cases, the tumor is so close to critical areas that the surgeon also performs brain mapping during surgery. For this purpose, electrodes are used to stimulate the surface of the brain. It is also sometimes necessary for the patient to be conscious throughout the surgery. During the procedure, the patient is woken up and asked to speak or reproduce specific movements.
Modern clinics perform neurosurgery in an operating room equipped with an MRI scanner. At any time during the operation, the neurosurgeon can take a picture to determine if the tumor has been completely excised. The cost of removing a brain tumor will depend on the complexity of the surgery plan.
More and more patients are undergoing neuroendoscopy. In this approach, the surgeon performs all actions through a tiny hole using a thin tube with a powerful high-resolution video camera and tiny surgical instruments.
Non-surgical removal of a brain tumor
In some cases, when surgery is not possible, the brain tumor is removed using radiation therapy. Modern imaging technologies, high-speed computer systems and linear accelerators are used abroad for the most accurate irradiation. You can find out how much such a brain tumor removal costs abroad by contacting a specific clinic.
