Stories of hope
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1.Longest Survival In Malignant Brain Tumor
We have two patients, one operated in 1996 and other in 2000. Both had highly malignant brain tumour, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In both the tumours were removed completely during first surgery. Both received adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy and chemotherapy)post surgery. Both are alive and fully functional as of today. They are the longest surviving patients with highly malignant brain tumour in the world.
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor. Despite advances in surgical techniques, therapies, and radiotherapies, the prognosis for this type of pathology remains very poor; most patients die within 12–18 months from diagnosis. There is however a small percentage of patients affected by glioblastoma multiforme who survive 3 years or longer. Also, there are very few rare cases, such as the two we are describing here, where patients have survived decades after surgical resection of the glioma. To our knowledge, these are some of the longest surviving patients (more than 21 years) in the literature whose initial diagnosis was glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma, and who are living an independent meaningful life.
Case1
A 25-year-old man, presented to us in June 1997, with complaints of focal seizures, headaches, and right hemiparesis.
He underwent three operations for the recurrent tumour and received adjuvant chemo and radiotherapy.
He is independent and works as an investment consultant.
Case2
A 32-year-old woman presented with 2 episodes of seizures in May 2000
She underwent three operations for the recurrent tumour and received adjuvant chemo and radiotherapy.
She owns a small-scale business, has a supporting husband and children, travels independently, and is leading a normal life.
2. Giant Brain Tumor In a 4 Year Old Child
This 4 years old overseas child came to us blind and inability to walk due to severe weakness in all the limbs. The MRI of the brain shows a gigantic tumour in the central part of the brain, as seen in the pictures below.
We removed large part of the tumour through a single approach, as seen in the picture below.
The child did very well after surgery as seen in the picture (3 months after surgery).
Fortunately, this was a benign tumour (craniopharyngioma), which is radiosensitive. Residual tumour was treated with radiotherapy.
3. Highly Vascular Meningioma
Meningioma are benign brain tumour, originate from brain covering (meninges or dura mater). As they grow, they push or sometimes, invade the brain mater. These are one of the most complex brain tumours due to many reasons, its’ location (proximity to vital brain structures) and the blood supply, to mention a few. We operated one such giant meningioma, as seen in the picture below.
The patient had to be transfused with 26 bottles of blood during surgery. Fortunately, she tolerated the surgery well. Below is the post-surgery CT scan.
She is well and leading a normal life.
