In a groundbreaking surgical feat, doctors at MGM Healthcare Malar in Chennai successfully removed an enormous 890g meningioma from a 54-year-old patient.

  • A massive 890g meningioma was surgically removed from a 54-year-old woman.
  • The tumour was so large it occupied almost the entire surface of the brain.
  • A two-step approach involving embolisation and craniotomy was used to ensure patient safety.

Medical specialists at MGM Healthcare Malar in Chennai have achieved a remarkable surgical milestone. A team of highly skilled doctors successfully extracted a colossal brain tumour weighing 890 grams from a 54-year-old woman, marking a significant victory in neurosurgical intervention.

The patient had been presenting with progressive neurological symptoms, including persistent headaches and significant difficulty in performing routine daily activities. Advanced brain imaging eventually revealed the presence of an enormous meningioma—a type of tumour that originates from the protective meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

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The Surgical Strategy

Senior interventional neurologist Dr. Karthikeyan S. noted that the patient sought medical attention after experiencing noticeable facial drooping (deviation of the mouth). Highlighting the scale of the procedure, he stated, "The human brain weighs approximately 1.4 kg. This tumour was occupying the entire brain surface."

Because tumours develop their own dedicated blood supply to survive, removing such a large mass carries a high risk of uncontrollable bleeding. To mitigate this, the medical team employed a sophisticated two-step procedure. First, they performed embolisation, a minimally invasive neurointerventional technique designed to cut off the blood supply specifically to the tumour while preserving normal blood flow to the rest of the brain.

The use of embolisation prior to the main surgery is critical in managing the high vascularity of large meningiomas.

Following the successful embolisation, senior consultant neurosurgeon Dr. Aqib Saliya performed a craniotomy. This procedure involves the temporary removal of a section of the skull to allow surgeons direct access to the brain tissue. The combined efforts of Dr. Karthikeyan S. and Dr. Sai Prashanth P.R. during the embolisation phase were instrumental in the operation's success.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the integration of interventional radiology with traditional neurosurgery is revolutionizing patient outcomes. In cases involving massive tumours, these combined techniques reduce intraoperative mortality and allow for more precise excision of tissue, which is vital when the tumour is integrated with or pressing against critical brain structures.

Did You Know?: Meningiomas are often slow-growing, but their sheer size can cause life-threatening pressure on the brain's vital centers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a meningioma?
It is a tumour that arises from the meninges, the protective layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord.

2. What is the purpose of embolisation in brain surgery?
Embolisation is used to block the blood vessels feeding a tumour, thereby reducing the risk of heavy bleeding during the surgical removal.