IDENTIFYING A BRAIN TUMOUR

Early diagnosis of a brain tumour is vital for its effective treatment and management. According to experts, many tumours, especially the slow-growing ones, tend to remain silent until they grow so large as to make their presence known.

Several symptoms of a brain tumour are common to less threatening illnesses, making it difficult to recognise these at an early stage, says Dr Dilip Panikar, specialist neurosurgery, Aster Hospitals – UAE. ‘If not recognised in time, tumours continue to grow and cause increasing problems, which can be devastating and in extreme stages incapacitating a person.’

Brain tumours can present in myriad ways. ‘One most commonly encountered way is early morning headache accompanied by vomiting. A transient blurring of vision may accompany this, and in extreme cases, a brief loss of consciousness. Though a headache is a widespread problem, not all headaches are because of a brain tumour.’

Epilepsy/seizures are other common manifestations, says Dr Panikar, adding that the seizure activity is like an electrical storm in the brain, which arises when a part of the brain is irritated by a tumour. ‘Tumours can affect the function of the normal brain and nerves inside the head and cause a weakness of an arm or leg, changes in vision, hearing, balance, voice and speech, sensations on the face and body, swallowing and gait. There can be changes in personality, behaviour and cognitive disturbances.’

Identifying brain tumours early with early intervention can not only significantly improve outcomes and survival but also give patients a significantly better quality of life, he adds. ‘Some brain tumours are related to known genetic mutations that are transmitted in families, and it may be possible to identify people at risk and keep them on regular imaging surveillance to pick up early tumour formation.’