Brain Tumor Treatment Center

Ramkhamhaeng Hospital's Brain Tumor Treatment Center combines surgical expertise with advanced medical technologies to ensure safe and effective brain tumor surgery to help patients return to normal life

 

The approaches for treating brain tumors are divided into two groups :

• Brain tumors that do not require surgery can be treated with clinical monitoring and regular MRI scans
• Brain tumors that require surgery or radiation therapy

 

Ramkhamhaeng Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology that enhances the safety and effectiveness of brain tumor treatment and surgery, including :

1. 3D Microscopy

3D Microscopy is an important technology for microsurgical brain tumor surgery. With a magnifying power of 39 times, this advanced 3D laparoscopic surgery can provide the surgeon with clear images during the operation. The resulting image is three-dimensional, allowing for the safe removal of tumors located in critical areas surrounded by blood vessels and small nerves, effectively reducing the risk of injury to surrounding small vital organs.

2. Endoscopic neurosurgery

   This involves using a tiny camera similar to those used in gallbladder or appendectomy procedures. The resulting image is a high-magnification, 2D image used for certain types of brain tumor surgery, such as pituitary adenoma where this type of endoscope can be inserted through the nostrils, allowing for brain tumor removal without the need for skin incisions or opening the skull. This reduces the risk of injury to the brain tissue and makes surgery for tumors in the base of the skull much safer.

3. The Cavitron Ultrasonic Aspirator (CUSA) 

   This crucial brain tumor surgery device emits high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves that break down tumor cells into smaller fragments, which are then removed using a small suction device. This process enhances the safety of tumor removal and effectively minimizes damage to brain tissue and surrounding organs.

4. Microsurgical equipment

   This is necessary for tumor surgeries as they require a magnifying camera to obtain clear and magnified images. As a result, the surgical equipment used needs to be much smaller to ensure millimeter-level resolution during the surgery.

5. The Neuro-Navigator

   This navigating device is used to accurately locate brain tumors and vital organs in the surgical area, helping to ensure precise surgical intervention and reducing the risk of complications resulting from incorrect positioning during surgery.

6. The Advanced MRI Technology

   The advanced MRI technology, including DTI fiber tracking. This technology is capable of locating important nerve fibers in the brain about the tumor. Since some brain tumors can infiltrate the nerve fibers, their removal can cause disability. Hence, this technology assists physicians in devising a plan to extract as much of the tumor as feasible while preserving brain function.

 

It also decreases the possibility of post-surgery disabilities. Another important MRI technology is MRI spectroscopy, which is useful in distinguishing areas suspected of having tumors, sepsis, or post-radiation conditions, consequently enhancing effective planning of accurate treatment options.

7. Intraoperative Monitoring

   During brain tumor surgery, intraoperative monitoring devices are used to monitor the patient's neurological activity while the patient is unconscious or awake. These devices use neurophysiological techniques to measure the electrical response of the nervous system. This monitoring helps to evaluate neurological function and minimize the risk of nervous system injury during surgery. Currently, this is considered a crucial standard in brain tumor surgery.

 

Once the tumor is extracted, cytology is performed in all cases to determine the type of tumor and various proteins present in tumors, even if they are of the same type based on cytology. This enables the doctor to accurately predict the prognosis of the disease. Additionally, after the tumor type is identified, some patients may require radiation or chemotherapy as a part of their brain tumor treatment.

Ramkhamhaeng Hospital's Brain Tumor Treatment Center offers advanced surgical and technology-based procedures, utilizing 3D Microscopy, endoscopic neurosurgery, CUSA, microsurgical tools, Neuro-Navigator, MRI tech, and intraoperative monitoring for precise, safe brain tumor removal and post-surgery care.