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How to Diagnose Brain Cancer & Treatment of Brain Tumor

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How to Diagnose Brain Tumor

Our specialists use a wide range of tests for the detection and diagnosis of brain tumors. These tests help our specialists arrive at a definitive diagnosis, which is important for appropriate treatment planning. The following are some of the important diagnostic tests used in the diagnosis of brain tumors:

Neurological Exam

Neurological exams involve the assessment of brain functions, reflexes, coordination, and mental status. A neurological exam helps doctors find out if there are any anomalies in the functioning of the nervous system.

Head CT Scan

A CT (computed tomography) scan creates detailed images of the internal brain structures using X-ray beams.

Brain MRI

MRI is an imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of the internal structures of the brain. A brain MRI is helpful in determining the exact location of the tumor, its size, and other tumor-specific parameters.

PET Scan of the Brain

A PET scan is another important imaging technique that is helpful in brain tumor or brain cancer diagnosis. During this procedure, a radioactive tracer is injected into the body, and during the scan, the technologists will look for those areas in the brain that have high metabolic activities, which appear as bright spots.

Collecting a Sample of Tissue

Also known as a biopsy, this procedure involves obtaining a tissue sample from the suspected area of the brain for analysis.

Testing the Tissue Sample in the Lab

The tissue obtained from the biopsy is examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells. This analysis provides critical information, such as the tumor type, its stage, its grade, and its genetic properties, which are crucial for planning personalized treatment. In other words, biopsies play a crucial role in helping specialists arrive at a conclusive diagnosis.

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Brain Tumor Treatment

Based on the information obtained through various diagnostic tests, brain tumor specialists plan customized treatment plans. Treatment plans are made based on multiple parameters, namely the type of brain tumor, its stage, its grade, its exact location, the patient’s age, and the patient's overall health status.

Brain Tumor Surgery

Brain tumor surgery refers to the surgical removal of the tumor present in the brain along with a small portion of healthy tissue that surrounds it. Depending on the location, stage, and type, the following are the different brain surgery types available for brain tumor treatment:

Removing part of the skull to get to the brain tumor

Also referred to as a craniotomy, this procedure involves accessing the tumor and removing it by cutting open a section of the skull.

Using a long, thin tube to get to the brain tumor

This procedure is minimally invasive, wherein the surgical instruments, along with a camera and light source, are sent to the brain through tiny incisions or natural openings, like the nostrils. This procedure benefits patients with reduced blood loss and pain, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and fewer treatment-related complications.

Radiation Therapy

Administering radiation therapy or radiotherapy for brain tumors is another way of effectively managing these tumors. This treatment involves targeting brain tumors with high-intensity radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. The following are the important radiotherapy procedures recommended for brain tumor or brain cancer treatment:

Linear Accelerator Radiosurgery

This procedure involves targeting the tumor with an external radiation source, a linear accelerator, or LINAC. Radiosurgery is a non-invasive procedure that precisely targets cancer cells and destroys them.

CyberKnife Radiosurgery

CyberKnife is a non-invasive brain tumor treatment that is recommended for both benign and malignant brain tumors. CyberKnife facilitates more effective and safer radiosurgery solutions and positively impacts the recovery rate among patients.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy, or internal beam radiation therapy, involves placing a radiation source inside or very close to the tumor. The radiation beams emitted from this radiation source, which could be in the form of pellets (seeds), destroy cancer cells. The biggest advantage of administering this form of radiotherapy for brain tumors is that it significantly limits the damage to the healthy tissues close to the tumor.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy falls under the systemic therapy category, wherein cancer specialists administer medications for brain tumor management. Chemotherapy involves administering powerful drugs that travel throughout the body to find and destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for brain tumors can be administered orally or intravenously.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a systemic therapy that precisely targets cancer cells based on their structural, molecular, or genetic properties and destroys them through multiple mechanisms. One of the biggest advantages of targeted therapy is that it limits damage to healthy tissues and therefore comes with fewer side effects.

Recovering After Treatment

Rehabilitation is necessary for patients who have undergone brain tumor treatment, as it helps them recover and return to their normal lives at a faster rate.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy focuses on restoring physical functions and enhancing mobility and overall strength.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps patients return to their normal lives and perform daily activities without depending on their caregivers. Occupational therapists devise personalized rehabilitation strategies to help patients return to the best state of health possible.

Speech Therapy

At times, certain brain tumors or their treatment can lead to speech impairment in patients. Undergoing speech therapy after brain tumor or brain cancer treatment can help patients regain their speech and swallowing abilities.

Tutoring for School-age Children

Pediatric brain tumor patients may find it challenging to attend school during their treatment. Therefore, opting for tutoring services can be helpful for these patients.

Treatment by Brain Tumor Type

Brain cancer specialists devise treatment plans for brain tumors and brain cancer based on their type. This approach plays a significant role in ensuring that patients receive effective treatment for their condition:

Oligodendroglioma

Oligodendroglioma is a rare type of brain tumor, and it can be both benign and malignant. Oligodendrogliomas are often treated with radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy.

Astrocytoma

Treatment plans for astrocytoma are devised based on the grade and location of the tumor and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.

Glioblastoma

This is an aggressive form of brain tumor. A thorough assessment is done before planning treatment for glioblastomas, and the different treatment options available for glioblastomas include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best scan for the diagnosis of brain tumors?

Depending on the specific requirements of each case, doctors recommend an MRI scan, CT scan, or PET scan, to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

The possibility of a successful cure for a brain tumor largely depends on the tumor type. In most cases, a benign brain tumor can be cured successfully. However, for malignant brain tumors, currently, there is no treatment that can be definitively considered a cure.

Early detection plays a crucial role in the successful treatment of brain tumors, allowing patients to lead normal and healthy lives. Recent advancements in brain tumor management have significantly improved survival rates, taking us one step closer to discovering a brain tumor cure one day.

Medications for brain tumors refer to systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Systemic therapies are an important component of brain tumor or brain cancer treatment, as they play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall efficacy of the treatment and improving survival chances. Chemotherapy for brain tumors is often recommended with other treatments, namely surgery and radiation therapy.

The success rate of brain tumor surgeries depends on multiple factors, namely the type of tumor, its location, its stage, and the overall health status of the patient. Today, the field of brain tumor management has advanced remarkably, and it is possible to achieve better quality clinical outcomes and help patients return to their normal lives at a faster rate.

Like any surgical procedure, brain tumor surgery, or brain tumor operation, comes with certain inherent risks. However, neurosurgeons who perform these procedures carry specialized expertise and take appropriate safety measures during the procedure. This way, they ensure optimized clinical outcomes and enhanced patient safety.

The survival rates for brain cancer cases depend on a myriad of factors, such as the type of tumor, its stage, and the treatment response shown by the patient. For better clinical outcomes, it is important for brain tumors to be detected in their early stages. The patient expert team will study the patients’ condition diligently and determine the disease prognosis before the treatment, and the same will be communicated to the patients and their caregivers.

The duration of hospitalization depends on the type of treatment undergone, the patient’s recovery progress, and the overall treatment plan.

Awake brain surgery, also known as an awake craniotomy, is one of the important brain surgery types, during which the patient is awake. Awake brain surgery is recommended for the brain tumor treatment and the management of seizures. The patient is deliberately kept awake in order to monitor brain functions during the procedure, especially when the areas that regulate speech, language, and mobility are involved. This is important to minimize damage to critical parts of the brain.