Brain surgery is very common in today’s technological advances. Meningioma Surgery is one of them. Meningioma is a kind of tumor which is usually benign. Benign tumors mean that they are non-cancerous or are not hazardous to the rest of the organs or the system. It still is important to know the real severity of the tumor. However if the tumor is found to be malignant, it can be very dangerous and can easily spread. 80 percent of those which are treated fully recover. Meningioma grows from the meninges or the external coverings of the spine and brain. 1 out of 5 brain tumors account to Meningioma.
Meningiomas are usually slow-growing and only around 10 percent is said to grow from the spine. Most of these come from the insides of the brain which is usually from the cerebral sphere. Those which are at the base of the brain are usually the ones which are hard to reach and would need special effort to extract without disturbing other parts of the brain.
Those from 40 to 70 years old usually are the ones found to have Meningioma. It occurs more in women than in men. Meningioma may grow from different parts of the brain and even simultaneously. Depending on where the tumor grows from, that is where the activity is mostly affected. Symptoms would include vomiting, headaches, visual problems and changes in behavior. A frontal lobe tumor may trigger mood swings and hemiparesis or the inability to move one side of the body. There may be difficulty in speech if the left side of the brain is affected. Body coordination and memory may be affected if the tumor grew from the temporal lobe. The parietal lobe is responsible for writing and other motor skills. If this part where the tumor grew from, there will be difficulty in performing such activities.
Prior to a Meningioma Surgery, there are a series of tests that should be done. Any of the following could be used solely or collectively depending on the doctor’s need for examination. There is the Computerized Tomography or CT scan, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan, Angiogram and Biopsy.
There are different ways to treat Meningioma and one of the ways to get rid of it is through Meningioma Surgery. Usually, it does not incur any complications while or after the surgery is performed. However on rare occasions, if you already underwent surgery, there are recurrences that may occur at a rate of 10 to 20 percent which is roughly ten years.. If the whole of the tumor is not taken out completely, the recurrence rate may be higher. Depending on the location of the tumor, Meningioma Surgery may not be possible. There are options that will be made available for you if this is not the best option.
Understanding your bodily functions should help you in keeping your health in good shape. If you think you are feeling symptoms of Meningioma or of any possible illness, always consult your doctor and never take it for granted. Always remember that prevention is better than cure.