Brain Tumor Excision
What is Brain Tumor Excision?
Brain tumor excision is a surgical procedure to remove a tumor from the brain, aiming to alleviate symptoms, prevent progression, and potentially cure the condition, depending on the tumor type. It is a complex procedure requiring precision to minimize damage to surrounding brain tissue. In India, brain tumor excision is performed in neurosurgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, offering advanced care at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) is essential for patients and families in India to make informed decisions.
Why do you need Brain Tumor Excision?
Brain tumor excision is indicated for:
- Primary brain tumors:
- Benign: Meningioma, pituitary adenoma, schwannoma.
- Malignant: Glioma (e.g., glioblastoma), astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma.
- Metastatic tumors: Cancer spread from another site (e.g., lung, breast).
- Symptomatic tumors: Causing seizures, headaches, motor deficits, vision/hearing loss, or cognitive changes.
- Tumor growth: Even if asymptomatic, to prevent future complications.
- Biopsy confirmation: When tumor type is unclear, excision provides tissue for diagnosis.
The procedure aims to remove as much of the tumor as safely possible (maximal safe resection) while preserving neurological function. Complete removal may not be feasible for tumors in critical areas (e.g., brainstem) or those with infiltrative growth (e.g., glioblastoma).
Why Do Brain Tumor Excision Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹8 lakh:
- Procedure Complexity: Craniotomy (₹1.5–5 lakh), awake craniotomy or endoscopic (₹3–8 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS, ₹50,000–₹2 lakh).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced neurosurgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: ICU stay (₹10,000–₹50,000/day), MRI/CT (₹5,000–₹15,000), intraoperative tools (e.g., neuronavigation), adjuvant therapy.
- Insurance: Covered for symptomatic or malignant tumors; Ayushman Bharat offers subsidies.
Brain Tumor Excision Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- MRI (with contrast) or CT scan maps the tumor’s location, size, and relation to critical structures (e.g., motor cortex, optic nerve).
- Functional MRI or tractography identifies areas controlling speech, movement, or vision.
- Blood tests assess fitness for surgery (e.g., coagulation, liver function).
- Neurological exam evaluates deficits (e.g., weakness, speech issues).
- Steroids (e.g., dexamethasone) reduce brain swelling; antiseizure medications (e.g., levetiracetam) may be started.
- Consent: Risks, including neurological deficits or incomplete resection, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Craniotomy:
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 3–6 hours.
- A scalp incision and craniotomy (removal of a skull section, 5–10 cm) expose the brain.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Neuronavigation: GPS-like system using MRI to guide the surgeon.
- Intraoperative MRI or ultrasound: Real-time imaging to maximize resection.
- Awake craniotomy: Used for tumors near eloquent areas (e.g., speech centers); the patient performs tasks (e.g., speaking) to avoid damage.
- Cortical mapping: Stimulates brain areas to identify functional regions.
- The tumor is removed using microsurgical techniques (e.g., ultrasonic aspirator, microscissors).
- Hemostasis is achieved with bipolar cautery; the skull flap is replaced with titanium plates/screws, and the scalp is sutured.
- Endoscopic Excision:
- For tumors in ventricles or pituitary gland (e.g., transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenomas).
- A small incision or nasal approach is used with an endoscope, minimizing brain manipulation.
- Stereotactic Biopsy:
- If resection isn’t feasible (e.g., deep tumors), a needle biopsy is performed using a stereotactic frame for diagnosis.
- Craniotomy:
- After Surgery:
- ICU monitoring for 1–3 days to watch for swelling, bleeding, or seizures.
- Hospital stay: 5–10 days (longer if complications).
- Pain management: IV analgesics (e.g., morphine) for 1–2 days, then oral (e.g., ibuprofen).
- Steroids are tapered over 1–2 weeks; antiseizure medications continue for 3–6 months.
- Pathology report (within 5–7 days) determines tumor type and guides adjuvant therapy (e.g., radiation, chemotherapy for malignant tumors).
Recovery After Brain Tumor Excision
- Hospital Stay: 5–10 days; longer (2–4 weeks) if complications or adjuvant therapy starts.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain: Scalp discomfort for 1–2 weeks, managed with analgesics.
- Activity: Light walking on day 2–3; avoid heavy lifting for 6–8 weeks.
- Neurological monitoring: For deficits (e.g., weakness, speech issues), which may improve over weeks/months.
- Steroids and antiseizure medications are adjusted based on symptoms.
- Rehabilitation: Physical, occupational, or speech therapy if deficits persist.
- Diet: Normal diet; high-protein foods (e.g., eggs, lentils) support healing; 2–3 liters water daily.
- Follow-Up:
- MRI at 6–12 weeks to assess residual tumor; then every 3–6 months for malignant tumors.
- Oncology consultation for radiation/chemotherapy (e.g., temozolomide for glioblastoma).
Recovery varies: 6–12 weeks for benign tumors with full resection; months to years for malignant tumors, with survival depending on tumor type (e.g., glioblastoma: 12–18 months median survival; meningioma: 90–95% 5-year survival).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks: Bleeding (3–5%), infection (2–5%), brain swelling (5–10%).
- Neurological Complications:
- Deficits (5–15%): Weakness, speech/vision loss, depending on tumor location.
- Seizures (5–10%), managed with medications.
- General Risks: Anesthesia reactions, blood clots (DVT, 2–5%), hydrocephalus (5–10%).
- Long-Term: Recurrence (e.g., glioblastoma: 90% within 2 years), cognitive decline, personality changes (esp. frontal lobe tumors).
Report fever, severe headache, or neurological changes promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes a brain tumor?
Often unknown; risk factors include genetics, radiation exposure, and family history (e.g., neurofibromatosis).
Can a brain tumor be fully removed?
Depends on the tumor: Benign tumors (e.g., meningioma) can often be fully removed; malignant ones (e.g., glioblastoma) often recur due to infiltration.
Will I lose brain function?
Risk exists (5–15%), but intraoperative mapping minimizes damage; deficits may improve with rehabilitation.
How soon can I resume activities?
Light activities in 2–3 weeks, normal routines in 6–12 weeks.
Is brain tumor excision covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for symptomatic or malignant tumors; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe headache, seizures, or new neurological deficits.
Will the tumor come back?
Benign: 5–10% recurrence; malignant: 50–90%, depending on tumor type and resection extent.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Avoid heavy lifting for 6–8 weeks, adhere to medications, attend rehabilitation, and follow up regularly.
Conclusion
Brain tumor excision is a critical procedure with outcomes varying by tumor type and location. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) offer affordable, expert care using advanced techniques. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients and families navigate this challenging journey. Consult a neurosurgeon for personalized guidance and optimal treatment.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Brain Tumor Excision
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Ahmedabad |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Ajmer |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Aligarh |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Allahabad |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Amritsar |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Aurangabad |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Bangalore |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Bareilly |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Belgaum |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Bhopal |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Bikaner |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Chandigarh |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Chennai |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Dehradun |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Delhi |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Durgapur |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Faridabad |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Guntur |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Gurgaon |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Guwahati |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Gwalior |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Hyderabad |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Indore |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Jabalpur |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Jaipur |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Jamshedpur |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Jodhpur |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Kanpur |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Kochi |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Kolkata |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Kollam |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Lucknow |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Ludhiana |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Madurai |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Mangalore |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Meerut |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Moradabad |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Mumbai |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Mysore |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Nagpur |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Nashik |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Noida |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Patna |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Pune |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Raipur |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Rajkot |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Ranchi |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Surat |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Thane |
3,00,000 |
7,50,000 |
Vadodara |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Varanasi |
2,50,000 |
7,00,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
2,75,000 |
7,25,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.