Although benign tumors are not aggressive in the way that malignant tumors are, if they are located in the brain or spinal cord, they can cause problems. If you have surgery for a benign brain tumor, what are the possible side effects? Here are the answers from Instituto Clavel.
Benign brain tumors do not contain cancerous cells, and in some cases, they are not deeply lodged in the brain tissue, so it is possible to remove them surgically.
One of the most common types of benign brain tumors is a meningioma. This tumor appears in the meninges, which are the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas are more common in women than men, and they tend to be diagnosed more frequently in adulthood.
The symptoms of this disease evolve slowly. However, in case of sudden onset of seizures or sudden changes in vision or memory, emergency medical attention is recommended. If the patient requires surgery, the doctor will attempt to remove the meningioma completely, and if this is not possible because the tumor is located too close to delicate structures of the brain or spinal cord, additional postoperative treatment will be necessary.
If some tumoral tissue remains because it was not possible to remove it all during the operation, it can be treated with radiation therapy, which reduces the likelihood that the meningioma will return. It should be noted, however, that before applying other treatments it will be necessary to analyze a sample of the tumor material that was removed.
In the vast majority of totally benign meningiomas (grade I), no additional treatments are required even when traces remain after surgery; however, it may be necessary to operate again if the tumor reappears over time. On the other hand, in the case of the atypical grade II meningioma, radiation therapy is usually offered. When it comes to grade III meningeal tumors, they are considered malignant and are no longer properly spoken of as meningiomas.
In addition to meningiomas, there are seven other notable types of benign tumors. Here we mention three of them:
- Chordomas: these are slow growing tumors, most often diagnosed in people between 50 and 60 years old. They usually appear lodged at the base of the skull and the lower part of the spine.
- Craniopharyngiomas: these tumors appear adjacent to the pituitary gland, having originated in the remains of embryonic cells that are trapped in this area. They can cause hormonal deficits, which could be considered as a relatively common side effect.
- Glomus jugulare tumors: These are located just below the base of the skull, at the top of the jugular vein and are considered the most common form of glomus tumor.
Possible side effects following meningioma surgery
In the majority of cases, patients do not experience pain or other problems as a result of their surgery for a benign brain tumor. But a small percentage of people may suffer complications, which usually appear in the long term. Among the most common of these are:
- Seizures
- Changes in memory and personality
- Weakness and difficulty concentrating
- Language disorders
We mention these complications as general information, so that you are aware they exist. However, they are not experienced by all patients, and this varies basically according to location of the brain tumor. Therefore, the appropriate treatment option for mitigating secondary effects that may result from the surgery, will depend on the areas that are affected in that patient.
These areas are classified as follows:
- Locomotor
- Cognitive
- Language
- Functional
- Behavioral
A patient may notice side effects following brain tumor surgery, in more than one of these areas at a time. That is, the patient may experience loss of mobility in the arms or the legs, or language or behavior problems, all in the same period of time. Therefore, when this occurs, the treatment plan requires coordination between different specialists.
If, after removing the tumor, the surgeon considers it necessary to implement further treatment options such as radiation therapy to ensure the elimination of any residual tumor in the surrounding tissue, the patient may experience side effects about two weeks after beginning the treatment.
Skin irritation, with dryness, redness, itching or tenderness in the area of the ears and scalp, as well as headaches, are some commonly noted side effects in these cases. In addition, fatigue can also appear during radiation treatment and the best way to counteract it will be by getting enough rest at night and eating a healthy diet.
Epilepsy: a rare side effect
Are epileptic seizures a normal side effect after meningioma surgery?
Seizures are not unusual, especially in the case of patients with a history of seizures prior to the surgery. These seizures can probably be controlled with medication, and after the patient is seizure-free for a reasonable period of time, between six months to a year, it may be possible to withdraw the medication, always under the advice and supervision of a specialist.
Each patient is unique!
The way a brain tumor is dealt with, the treatment decisions, and the possible complications before, during and after surgery, depend on many factors, because each patient is unique.
The neurological risk of a tumor can be classified according to the specific type of tumor and its location, and the possible degrees of severity and type of functional alterations (if any), can vary widely. As professionals in the field of neurosurgery we know that there are risks, but these are assessed on an individual basis according to the patient profile, and the patient will be expressly informed of all risks before any surgery is performed.
At Instituto Clavel, in addition to the experience of our neurosurgeons, we have the latest intraoperative monitoring technology, which helps us monitor the patient's condition at all times during the surgery to maximize their safety.
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Categories: Brain treatments, Brain pathologies, Surgery