A team headed by Dr Vinod Rambal, consultant neurosurgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road successfully treated a 42-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) patient who was suffering from persistent headaches and abnormal fluid build-up due to a slow-growing tumour typically found near the centre of the brain.
Originally belonging to Goa, the patient- Richard (name changed) had migrated to England ten years ago. The patient had symptoms of heavy headache and unease on and off for about a month. He consulted the doctors in the UK and was treated symptomatically but he did not get any relief from his symptoms and pain.
As his symptoms were persistent and intensity increased, he flew back to India and approached the Wockhardt Hospitals. The patient who was detected with a colloid cyst of the third ventricle (a non-cancerous, fluid-filled sac that arises in the area of the brain known as the third ventricle) underwent a minimally invasive surgery called trans-cranial excision of the third ventricular tumor and was treated successfully.
“This patient’s case is rare and forms only 1% of total brain tumours, benign and strategically placed within the center of water sacs, deep down in the third ventricle of the brain, and results in a headache. Water is formed in ventricles and circulates within and then comes out, it obstructs the outflow of brain water and initially causes intermittent blockage and with time it gets bigger and can cause severe blockage and consequences. Though it is a benign tumour, it could be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated on time. The patient is now discharged and free from his symptoms,” said Dr Rambal.
“The chronic headaches were terrible and I couldn’t find any remedies for it. The diagnosis of the tumor came as a shocker for me. But, thanks to the timely and efficient treatment by medical experts at Wockhardt Hospitals not only did the disbelief give way, but my physical discomfort alleviated while instilling in me a sense of confidence. It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted off my shoulders.” said Richard. The colloid cysts are fluid-filled sacs (gelatinous creamy material) in the brain in the third ventricle. Other common symptoms of colloid cysts include memory problems, loss of consciousness, imbalance, inability to walk, vomiting, nausea, and confusion.