Brain Tumor

It is the abnormal proliferation of the supporting cells comprising the brain (glial cells) or the meninges within the closed and narrow space of the skull, forming a mass (lump).

Even being 'benign' can be dangerous in brain tumors because the skull is a rigid, closed box. Even a benign (non-cancerous) tumor, when it grows, can crush the vital centers of the brain (respiration, vision, movement) and cause paralysis or coma.

The most typical symptom is very severe headaches that are especially prominent upon waking in the morning and are relieved by vomiting. Furthermore, an adult who has never had a seizure suddenly experiencing an Epileptic seizure, weakness in an arm or leg (onset of paralysis), speech impairment, personality changes, and vision loss are the most critical warning signs.

There is no proven, definitive scientific data that mobile phone use or blows to the head cause brain tumors. The most clearly known risk factor is a history of high-dose radiation therapy to the head region.

A Contrast-Enhanced Brain MRI taken after a neurological examination is the gold standard. Thanks to the MRI, the location, size, and surrounding edema (swelling) of the tumor are determined with millimeter precision.

The main treatment is the surgical removal of the tumor under a microscope without damaging healthy brain tissue. Surgeons use Neuronavigation (Brain GPS System) during surgery to reduce the margin of error to zero. If the tumor is very deep in the brain and cannot be operated on, Gamma Knife (Radiosurgery), which burns the tumor by delivering targeted external radiation without opening the skull, or radiotherapy is applied.