Hearing the word "tumour" on a scan report is frightening, and most families come to the OPD with a dozen questions at once. Is it cancer? Does it need an operation? Can it wait? The honest answer depends on where the tumour is, how big it is, what it looks like on MRI and what it is doing to the patient.
Dr. Gaurav Sharma has worked in neurosurgery for over 14 years. Brain tumour surgery, skull base surgery and endoscopic neurosurgery make up a large part of his work, along with neuro trauma and complex spine surgery.
Every brain tumour is different. The plan starts with where it is, what it is pressing on and how it is affecting the patient's life.
The first consultation is about understanding. The scans are gone through together, the findings are explained, and all the options are put on the table, including watching and waiting when that is safe.
Location matters more than anything else. A tumour close to the areas that control speech, movement or vision needs a very different approach from one in a quieter part of the brain.
The MRI, the patient's symptoms and their general health all go into deciding whether to operate, how, and when. Nothing is decided on the scan report alone.
Brain tumour surgery is not one single operation. It can mean removing the whole tumour, removing as much as can be taken out safely, or taking a small sample (biopsy) to find out exactly what it is. Tumours at the base of the skull lie close to nerves and blood vessels and need particular care; some of them can be reached through the nose with an endoscope.
Surgery is usually advised when the tumour is causing symptoms, pressing on the brain, growing on repeat scans, or when tissue is needed for a diagnosis. Finding a tumour on a scan does not automatically mean an operation.
Meningiomas grow from the thin coverings of the brain and are usually slow-growing and benign. A small meningioma that causes no symptoms is often watched with an MRI every few months. Larger tumours, or those causing headaches, seizures or weakness, may need surgery.
Gliomas start in the brain's supporting cells and range from low grade to high grade, including glioblastoma. Surgery aims to remove as much of the tumour as can be removed safely and to confirm the exact diagnosis. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy, if needed, is planned afterwards with the oncology team.
Pituitary tumours can press on the nerves of the eye and disturb hormone levels. Many can be removed through the nose with an endoscope (endoscopic endonasal surgery), so the skull does not need to be opened. Some hormone-producing tumours are treated with medicines first.
Tumours in or around the spinal cord can cause back pain, numbness or weakness in the legs. They are assessed with MRI and removed surgically when needed. See also spine surgery in Panchkula.
These symptoms have many causes, and most of them are not tumours. They still need a doctor's assessment, and often an MRI of the brain.
Most brain tumours are removed through a craniotomy, a small window made in the skull, which is fixed back in place at the end of the operation. Some tumours, especially at the skull base and pituitary, are reached with an endoscope. The tissue removed is sent for histopathology, which tells the exact tumour type and guides further treatment. Hospital stay and recovery vary with the type of surgery and the patient's condition, and are discussed in detail before the operation.
There is no single fixed cost. It depends on the type and location of the tumour, the surgical approach, the number of days in ICU and in the ward, and tests needed after surgery. A written estimate is shared after the consultation, once the treatment plan is clear. For insurance and cashless approval, please check with the hospital billing desk.
Every brain operation carries some risk, and the level of risk depends on the tumour's location and size and the patient's general health. These risks are explained before surgery, along with the risks of not operating.
No. Many brain tumours, such as most meningiomas and pituitary adenomas, are benign (non-cancerous). Even a benign tumour may need treatment if it presses on the brain or nerves.
It varies. Some patients are walking within a day or two and go home in a few days, while others need a longer stay and rehabilitation. Return to work depends on the job and the type of tumour.
Often, yes. Many pituitary tumours are removed through the nose using an endoscope. Whether this is suitable depends on the size and spread of the tumour on MRI.
That depends on the tumour type reported on histopathology. Benign tumours may only need follow-up scans. Malignant tumours usually need radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, planned with the oncology team.
