Acute headache, which does not get cured by painkillers intake, could be a sign of brain tumour. This has been revealed in a case study of a 36-year-old woman, presented by Mumbai’s Wockhardt hospitals.
Mitasha Agarwal (name changed), a resident of Jogeshwari, Mumbai, housewife and a mother of two children, was leading a normal life until she experienced an unbearable headache, which required hospitalisation at a hospital recently.
The doctors instituted first aid which helped her achieve some relief. However, after some time the headache again started and made the patient’s life tougher as she could not do her daily chores.
When the woman was taken to the hospital, she was diagnosed with hemangioblastoma, a rare benign brain tumour that starts in the cells that line the blood vessels in the brain, spinal cord and brainstem. The woman has the family history of hemangioblastoma.
Doctors at the hospital successfully managed to remove the tumour from a critical part of the brain which controls all vital functions for life.
This area has breathing and heart control and all connections from the entire body going up and down. The size of the tumor was around 2×2 cm in dimensions.
She was discharged home a few days back.
She was aware about this disease as her nephew was operated for the same issue just a year back and cousin three years ago both much younger to her.
One sibling had died in the past and knowing was a nightmare for the entire family. By now all family members were aware and knowledgeable about this disease.
Dr Vinod Rambal, Neurosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, said, “On arrival in an emergency she was complaining of severe headache and was not able to balance herself. As the diagnosis was already evident, they hardly required any counselling because of past experience with the hospital and the surgeon.”
Dr Rambal said that their comfort level for institutions and surgeons was already established. She was relieved of her symptoms and returned home quite early.
He added that this disease is a benign disorder called syndrome meaning more than one part of the body can get affected so it is for us to do a full body check-up and establish the other components of syndrome.
“Operation at this location is full of challenges and requires good infrastructure and experience on the part of the surgeon. Once the tumour is successfully removed it is a cure for the individual, though they need regular follow up,” Dr Rambal added.
Dr Vinod Rambal,
Neurosurgeon,
Wockhardt Hospitals
