Accessibility to Expertise and Technology Gives Master Mithun a Second Chance at Life at BGS Global Hospitals
As a result of administering technology enabled precise radiation, BGS Global Hospitals, Super Specialty Quaternary Care, is successfully able to treat Master Mithun, a 11 year old from Bangalore, diagnosed with High Grade Brain Stem Glioma, with a survival of 5 years and leading a normal life as any other kid.
Dr. J Mathangi, Consultant, Radiation Oncologist, BGS Global Hospitals, said, “With a multi disciplinary team approach, we analyzed his case in detail. Accessibility to advanced technologies is improving medical outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients. Precise radiation can be delivered through advanced technologies like TrueBeam STx, with accuracy, speed all intending towards patient comfort helping us treat even inoperable tumors. The patient underwent surgery followed by 30 fractions of TrueBeam STx Radiotherapy, for 6 weeks without anesthesia along with concurrent chemotherapy. Post treatment his tumor is in remission and he is back to being as active as any other kid.”
Dr. Venkataramanaa N K, Vice Chairman & Chief Neurosurgeon, BGS Global Hospitals, said, “ The child had developed headaches, vomiting, imbalance while walking for over 6 months. Investigation revealed a growth in the brain stem, with hydrocephalus (Accumulation of Fluid) in the brain. Subsequently, he underwent surgery in January 2009 on the right side. The tumor was debulked and diagnosed as Brain Stem Glioma. He received chemotherapy and was on regular follow up. He was doing well, till May 2013. He again came back imbalance in walking. MRI scan showed re growth of the tumor along with a cyst compressing the brain stem. We decided to re operate on him through a different approach. During the surgery the cyst and the solid part of the tumor was removed. Pathology confirmed it as high grade glioma. He underwent radiotherapy, received it with utmost precision and safety without any anesthesia and pain, through the world’s best technology that is available today as, TrueBeam Stx. The normal survival of brain stem glioma is 1.5 to 2 years. With the advanced technologies, he survived and created a landmark of five year survival.”
Brain Stem Glioma: Brain Stem Glioma is tumor in the brain stem. Brain stem tumors accounts for about 10 to 15% of childhood brain tumors. Peak incidence for these tumors occurs around age 6 to 9 years. The average survival of patients diagnosed with brain stem tumor is less than 2 years.
Malignant brain tumors are a real challenge to treat across the world. In spite of several advances in medicine, there is no good effective chemotherapy for glioma’s and radiotherapy to the brain has its own risks. Particularly in brain stem, even surgery becomes a challenge. Brain stem is a very complex structure, connecting the big brain, small brain to the spinal cord. Hence it is a compact and complex mixture of fibers. In addition, it regulates consciousness, sleep wakefulness cycle, heart rate, breathing blood pressure and digestion.
