1. Surgical Innovations
You may need surgery to remove the glioblastoma. In some cases, surgery may help preserve or improve brain function by reducing pressure from the tumor. But surgery can also damage healthy tissue and cause swelling, which may contribute to cognitive decline. Surgeons may use advanced techniques to help reduce these risks.
“Surgical advancements for glioblastoma are increasingly focused on maximizing tumor removal while safeguarding neurological, including cognitive, functions,” says Joseph Landolfi, DO, a neuro-oncologist and the division chief of neuro-oncology at Hackensack Meridian Health’s JFK New Jersey Neuroscience Institute in Edison, New Jersey. “A personalized approach combining sophisticated techniques is crucial.”
Brain Mapping
Advanced brain mapping allows a highly specialized surgeon to remove as much of a tumor as possible while attempting to minimize complications. It may be the most effective surgical approach today, says Alyx Porter Umphrey, MD, a neurologist, a professor of neurology, and the director of the neuro-oncology section at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Phoenix.
Then your surgeon can carefully plan a surgical route that maximizes tumor removal while minimizing the risk of losing cognitive or neurological function, says Nitesh V. Patel, MD, a brain and tumor neurosurgeon and the co-director of the neurosurgical oncology program at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.
Fluorescence-Guided Surgery
When your surgeon uses this technique, you take a pill that makes the tumor cells glow under a specific light. This allows your surgeon to identify and remove cancerous tissue with precision while avoiding healthy brain tissue and protecting areas of the brain that control movement and speech, Dr. Landolfi says.
Awake Craniotomy
“If the surgeon gets too close to a critical area, they can immediately adjust,” Porter Umphrey says. “[This procedure] requires a coordinated team, including neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, and anesthesiologists, all working together to maximize tumor removal without compromising cognition or quality of life.”
While it may sound intimidating, people typically don’t feel pain during the procedure because your brain does not have pain receptors, Dr. Patel says. You may feel pressure or other sensations. If you feel pain, you can tell your surgical team right away.
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