Is gamma knife safer than a surgical operation in a brain tumor. which operati!


Question:

Is gamma knife safer than a surgical operation in a brain tumor. which operation is more risky?

i was already operated for a brain tumor about 2 1/2 years ago and as a follow up monitoring i was advised by the doctor that i should subject myself for a yearly MRI. recently i have my MRI read by my neurosurgeon and it was found out according to the interpretation of the radiologist that there was an increase in size in the left subfrontal and sellar nodular mass lesions and a progression of the right frontal cystic encephalomacia which according to my neuro that their is another growth of tumor at the optic chiasm particularly on the right. he told two options, to have gamma knife laser operation or a plain surgical operation.


Answers:

Since you have already had brain surgery, you know what the recovery is like. I had brain surgery also 3 years ago.

The only known cure for a brain tumor is total surgical removal. Gamma knife is a treatment, not a cure. Gamma knife can shrink a tumor, it will not go away completely. Sometimes gamma knife will stop the growth of the tumor. Also gamma knife is radiation which is known to cause tumors, so by subjecting your brain to radiation, it could cause other tumors in the future.

My surgery was for a brain tumor that was in the suprasellar region, just in front of and pressing against the optic chiasm and splaying the optic nerves in front of the chiasm. I was told that I was not a candidate for the gamma knife or cyber knife treatments because of the tumor location. Since it was against the optic nerves and the internal carotid artery, the radiation would destroy my vision and possibly cut off blood flow to the brain.

I would recommend that you get a second and possibly a third opinion on how you should be treated. Consider all your options.

I also have yearly MRI's and so far, there has been no recurrence. My neurosurgeon was successful in removing all of my tumor, but there is still a 20% recurrence rate within 10 years.

I had surgery at the Brain Tumor Institute at the Cleveland Clinic.

Check out this website:
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/b...

It lists the top US hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery. Some of them will give you an opinion if you send them your MRI's.

Good luck.




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