Rare brain tumour cases in two young women treated successfully at Fortis Hospital Noida

The Department of Neurosurgery at Fortis Hospital, Noida recently gave two women, Shalini, 22 and Irakoze Mamy Carine, 24, suffering from uncommon forms of brain tumour, another chance to live a happy and fulfilled life. The incidences and prevalence of brain tumour is growing in India. According to the National Health Portal, Government of India, a study on childhood cancer has revealed that brain tumour is commonest in girls and even in both sexes in adults.

Shalini and Irakoze were presented at Fortis, Noida, separately in an exhausted, fatigued condition. They exhibited similar symptoms of headache, nausea and amenorrhoea. Post tests and investigations, it was discovered that both were suffering from a skull brain tumour, Pituitary Adenoma (occurring in the pituitary gland). After a full assessment, a team of doctors led by Dr Rahul Gupta, Additional Director, Department of Neurosurgery and Dr HS Bhatoe, Director, Department of Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital, Noida carried out extremely complex, carefully crafted surgical interventions and successfully removed the tumours.

Shalini had been suffering from frequent headaches and episodes of vomiting for the last one and half years. In addition to this, her menstrual cycle had been irregular and inconsistent for the past one year. Irakoze suffered from similar symptoms and had visited Fortis Hospital, Noida from her country Rwanda in South Africa. She displayed signs of blurred vision, diplopia, insomnia, difficulty in speaking, walking and constipation.

Dr Rahul Gupta, Additional Director, Department of Neuro Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, “An Endoscopic pituitary skull-based surgery was conducted in both the patients through the nose and sphenoid sinus to remove pituitary tumours. The optical advantages of an endoscope enhance tumor removal via endoscopy even in complex cases. It is performed through a natural nasal air pathway through the nose without any incisions unlike the conventional microscopic surgery. If the treatment protocol is followed correctly, full recovery can be assured. Patient is then discharged in 4 days.”

Dr. (Brig) HS Bhatoe, Director, Department of Neuro Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, “Endoscopic surgery does not require the use of a metallic trans sphenoidal retractor that is used in conventional “Microscopic Transnasal Transphenoidal Pituitary Tumour” surgery. In this surgery, a 4 mm endoscope is placed in front of the tumour in the sphenoidal sinus and the tumour is removed with specially designed surgical tools. Postoperative nasal packing is not necessary, and post-operative discomfort is minimal. The optical advantages of an endoscope enhance tumour removal even in complex cases of heavy tumours”.

Dr. Kousar A Shah, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, “Fortis Hospital Noida has piloted several complex surgeries in the past. These cases represented a challenge as they were rare cases of brain tumour that had remained undiagnosed so far. Our team decided on an unconventional surgical procedure and managed to save their lives. The fact that we were able to save an international patient is proof of our ability to provide patient-centric quality health care services.”

Unnecessary growth of cells when body don’t require them is known as cancer. A brain tumour occurs when abnormal cells produce within any part of brain. A nervous system tumour is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain that has the potential to disrupt proper neural functioning. Symptoms that arise from a brain tumour depend on the size, type and location of the tumour. While all tumours are not cancerous, the abnormal cells are incapable of performing “assigned” tasks and thereby hinder the functioning of their neighbouring cells. In India, every year 40,000-50,000 persons are diagnosed with brain tumour. Until a year ago, the figure was only somewhere around 5%. The Brain Tumour Foundation of India says that it is the second most common cancer among children after leukaemia. The pituitary is an important gland in the body and it is often referred to as the 'master gland', because it controls several of the other hormone glands of the human body.

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