Advanced 3D technology comes to aid of AIIMS doctors to remove brain tumours

New Delhi: The Neurology department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here has initiated new techniques for treatment of brain tumour and removing it without making incisions.

The institute also provides treatment for Glioma cancer, an inside-the-brain tumour, by using 3D technology.

With these new healthcare services, AIIMS has become the first government hospital in India for high-end facility for brain cancer treatment.

Dr Ashish Suri, Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, said, "We have introduced 3D brain tumour surgery for patients, wherein we wear special polaroid goggles to see brain tumours with in-depth clarity. Visuals can be seen on the monitor screen. So far, several patients have been treated."

"AIIMS is the only government institute in the country which provides advanced brain cancer services to their patients," he added.

Doctors at AIIMS recently conducted a live surgery of brain tumour without incision with the help of 3D technology.

The surgery was broadcast live, via video conferencing, at a conference organised by the Indian Society of Neuro Analogy at the premier healthcare institution.

Dr Suri added that earlier, 2D technology was used for treatment of brain tumour at AIIMS.

This, however, has been replaced by 3D technology for the last one year.

Explaining the technique, Suri said, "This technology does not involve incision to remove the tumour. Surgery is done through endoscopy method in which a portion of nose or brain is pierced."

He further said, "The patient who had undergone surgery during the workshop had a tumour in the pituitary gland of his brain, which was removed by endoscopy process."

He added that 3D is the best technology to teach students how to perform operations.

Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director at Apollo Proton Centre, Chennai, said, "Do not be scared of the brain tumour. There are thousands of brain tumour survivors across the world, who are living their normal life after treatment."

Dr Chitra Sarkar, Professor of Pathology and Dean - Research at AIIMS, said, "Brain tumours constitute two to three per cent of all cancers, but are the second commonest tumours in childhood. One must not surrender as many of these tumours can be cured."

"About 70-80 per cent of childhood brain tumours and a significant proportion of adult brain tumours are expected currently to get cured for years and decades and lead normal lives," said Sarkar.

Highlighting the importance of the conference, Dr Suri said each year, AIIMS comes out with national guidelines on a particular type of brain tumour, as per the available scientific evidence, taking into account local resources and cost effective strategies.

The guidelines are an exceedingly vital source of information to help all oncologists, not only in smaller cities in different states in India but also in other countries including those in the western hemisphere, he said.