Brain and Spinal Tumor Surgery
Surgery is the first and most common treatment for most people with brain tumors.
Surgery is the first and most common treatment for most people with brain and spinal tumors. Surgical removal and continued monitoring may be the only treatment for some tumors like brain and spinal tumors. The goals of the surgery could include the following:
- Complete removal (resection) of the brain tumor
- Partial removal of tumors near sensitive areas of the brain relieves symptoms and facilitates or increases other treatments’ effectiveness. Less pressure within the skull can mean reduced symptoms and improved ability to function (for example, to think, speak or see better).
- A biopsy — a surgical procedure to remove a small sample of a brain tumor for examination under a microscope — is usually performed during surgery to remove the tumor. A biopsy can be performed as a separate procedure if the tumor can’t be removed without damaging critical parts of the brain or if the patient is otherwise not a candidate for surgery. A biopsy lets doctors confirm the diagnosis (including tumor type, malignancy, and grade) and recommend the most appropriate treatment. Doctors who cannot perform a biopsy will diagnose the brain tumor and plan the treatment based on other test results. It may take a week or longer after the biopsy to find out the name and type of your brain tumor.
The challenge of the brain and spinal tumor surgery is removing as much of the tumor as possible without severely damaging normal brain tissue, which demands skill and experience, as well as advanced technology and a well-orchestrated team.
Dr. Abdul Baker is the best option in this scenario because of his immense experience as a neurosurgeon in Texas.
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The Types of Brain Tumor Surgery
Craniotomy
A craniotomy is the most common type of surgery to remove a brain tumor. This procedure involves making an incision in the scalp and removing a piece of bone from the skull to give the neurosurgeon access to the tumor. Carefully planned surgical procedures can help the neurosurgeon address challenging skull base tumors.
Endoscopic Brain Tumor Surgery (Neuroendoscopy)
Neuroendoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which the neurosurgeon removes the tumor through small holes (about the size of a dime) in the skull or through the mouth or nose. A surgery done through the nose is called an endonasal endoscopic surgery.
This approach allows the surgeon to access areas of the brain that cannot be reached with traditional surgery and remove the tumor without cutting or harming other parts of the skull.
MRI-Guided Laser Ablation
MRI-guided laser ablation is a minimally invasive neurosurgical technique for a number of diseases, including brain tumors. The treatment uses lasers to target and destroy the tumor.
The procedure can help surgeons address the most serious brain tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme and brain tumors that are located close to sensitive structures in the brain, making them hard to access through traditional open surgery.
MRI-guided laser ablation can offer reduced pain after surgery and shorter recovery time compared with craniotomy.
Tubular Retractor System for Neurosurgery
The tubular retractor system is the latest minimally invasive procedure that can help your neurosurgeon manage several serious conditions, including brain tumors.
A retractor is any instrument that moves or holds tissue so a surgeon can reach a particular area. The tubular retractor is valuable because it moves aside the folds and delicate tissues of the brain with less risk of damage than other surgical methods — it displaces the tissue instead of cutting through it.
The tubular retractor system can be especially useful in situations when a tumor is located deep in the brain. It also offers a less invasive option than traditional open surgery (craniotomy), just like minimally invasive spine surgery.
Preparing for Brain & Spine Tumor Surgery
To identify the exact location of the brain and spinal tumor and plan the brain surgery procedure, the neurosurgeon will order imaging tests as needed, which may include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging
- Computerized tomography (CT or CAT scan)
- Angiogram
Your neurosurgeon may use fiducial markers — small stickers that look like white doughnuts — to target certain areas for surgical resection or treatment. They are painlessly affixed to your scalp before your operation by a member of your radiology team.
A CT or MRI scan with the fiducials in place creates a 3D map of your head. During surgery, the fiducials provide a series of reference points for your surgeon and integrate navigation during surgery with the 3D map.
This imaging-assisted technique helps your surgeon safely find the way around your brain and precisely locate tumors, targets for deep brain stimulation, and other lesions in three dimensions as they work, almost like a GPS.
The neurosurgeon will use the map to plan the procedure to avoid areas of the brain associated with key functions.
You may be scheduled to have your fiducials attached a day or two before your surgery. It’s important not to disturb or remove them. Ask your surgeon when they plan to attach them since you cannot shower or wash your hair once they are in place. They will be removed once your operation is complete.
In addition to pre-operative testing and imaging, your doctor will instruct you on which medications to take and not to take before your procedure. Brain and spinal tumor surgeries are complicated; you need proper pre and post-operative care.
Your doctor will also discuss whether you need to stop eating at a certain time before your surgery.
The Tubular Retractor System
With the Tubular Retractor System, the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin and a small opening in the skull.
Computerized navigation helps the surgeon move the tubular retractor gently through the brain’s white matter and gain access to the tumor.
The surgeon works through the tubular retractor to extract the tumor. A fiber optic camera can be used to help visualize the area.
Once the problem is corrected, the surgical team withdraws the instruments, removes the tubular retractor, and closes the small incision.
Because the tubular retractor system involves a smaller incision and less disruption to the brain tissue, it may involve less risk, less discomfort, and a shorter recovery period than what is associated with traditional surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions about
Brain & Spinal Tumor Surgery
Are there any options for inoperable brain tumors?
Brain tumors could be considered inoperable because:
- They don’t have clear borders and are hard to distinguish from healthy tissues.
- They are too close to areas of the brain that control vision, language, body movements, or other important margins.
- Surgery would result in a significant loss of function.
Some tumors are labeled “inoperable” but can be removed by neurosurgeons with specialized expertise. If you’ve been told your tumor is inoperable, consider seeking a second opinion at a large, multidisciplinary brain tumor center.
These teams typically offer advanced surgical techniques that allow greater access to hard-to-reach sections of the brain.
Despite advancements in treatment, a tumor’s biology, location, or behavior may make it truly inoperable. In such cases, your doctor may recommend other treatments, such as radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or clinical trials. Spinal tumor surgery can also be inoperable, but your doctor will suggest suitable treatment options.
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Dr. Baker specializes in neurosurgery, neurosurgical spine surgery, neurotrauma, brain tumors, spinal tumors, and peripheral nerve damage treatment.