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What are the most prominent methods used to treat a benign brain tumor? How is it diagnosed? This is what we will learn about in this article, in addition to many tips that you should know.
Benign brain tumors grow slowly in the brain and tend to stay in one place and do not spread. In this article, we will learn the most important details about methods of treating a benign brain tumor:
Treatment of benign brain tumor
Treatment depends on the type and size of the tumor, its location in the brain, the growth rate of the tumor, and the patient’s health condition. The following are the most important methods of treating a benign brain tumor:
1. Surgery
It is used to safely remove as much of a benign brain tumor as possible without damaging the brain tissue surrounding the tumor. If doctors cannot completely remove the tumor, you may need chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
It is important to know that these tumors do not return after they are removed, but sometimes they grow again or become cancerous.
2. Radiation therapy
Some benign brain tumors are located deep in the brain and are difficult to remove without causing damage to the surrounding tissue. In this case, a special type of radiation therapy is used called stereotactic radiosurgery, which directs small beams of high-energy rays to kill the benign tumors. The treatment takes place in one session, and recovery is quick, as the patient can return home on the same day.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to shrink a benign brain tumor or kill any cells left behind after surgery to remove the tumor. Doctors rarely resort to using it to treat benign tumors.
4. Laser thermal ablation
It is one of the modern techniques used to treat small benign tumors that are difficult to reach through surgery, but the effectiveness of this method has not been proven in the long term.
Treatment of symptoms of benign brain tumor
Doctors resort to using medications to help treat and alleviate some of the symptoms of a benign brain tumor, whether before or after surgery, including the following:
Anticonvulsants to prevent epileptic seizures.
Steroids are used to reduce swelling around the tumor.
Painkillers to treat headaches.
Medicines to prevent vomiting.
Diagnosis of benign brain tumor
After learning about the methods of treating a benign brain tumor and alleviating its symptoms, here are the diagnostic methods used to detect a benign brain tumor:
1. Imaging techniques
Imaging methods help identify brain tumors using CT or MRI diagnostic tools. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy is used to examine the chemical appearance of the tumor, and Positron Emission Tomography helps detect recurrent brain tumors.
2. Biopsy
The neurosurgeon performs the biopsy and the pathologist makes the final diagnosis to determine whether the tumor is malignant or benign.
4. Neurological examination
Includes examination of vision, hearing, balance, strength and reflexes To evaluate whether there are brain tumors in general, the doctor then resorts to performing an MRI to determine the type and characteristics of the tumor.
Tips when treating a benign brain tumor
Below is a list of the most important tips that should be followed when treating a benign brain tumor:
Commitment to all review appointments with your specialist doctor to assess the extent of improvement.
Take medications prescribed by the doctor in the specified doses and times.
Exercising and doing physical activities to return to the basic lifestyle that you were following, but you should be careful to avoid doing physical activities that require high effort.
Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and spend time doing favorite hobbies to reduce stress and stress.
