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Early Detection and Treatment of Brain Tumour – Beacon Hospital’s IORT Approach for Enhanced Precision and Effectiveness

October 28, 2024

Dr Sia Sheau Fung, SinChew Article, Beacon Hospital

Common Symptoms of Brain Tumours:

1. Headaches: The most common initial symptom, often worse in the morning. Persistent or worsening headaches require medical attention.

2. Nausea/Vomiting: Severe headaches may cause nausea, with vomiting sometimes providing temporary relief. Patients may also experience dizziness or vertigo.

3. Vision Problems: Symptoms can include blurred vision, double vision, or temporary vision loss.

4. Speech, Hearing, Smell, or Taste Problems: Patients may experience slurred speech and difficulties with language, hearing, smell, or taste.

5. Memory Problems: This includes memory confusion and difficulty following simple instructions.

6. Seizures: Any seizures, whether mild or severe, should be noted, especially in patients with no epilepsy history.

7. Physical Weakness or Paralysis: Some body parts may weaken, fatigue, or potentially lead to paralysis depending on the tumour’s location.

What is a Brain Tumour?

A brain tumour results from abnormal brain cell growth and can be classified as:

Primary (originating in the brain)
Secondary (metastatic from other body parts)

Tumours can be:

Benign (non-cancerous)

grow slowly and are less likely to recur
e.g. meningiomas and pituitary tumours

Malignant (cancerous)

Primary tumours that grow in the brain and is aggressive.
e.g. astrocytomas and glioblastomas

Treatment Approach (IORT)

Treating brain tumours necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, involving surgical removal by neurosurgeons and radiation therapies such as external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Dr. Sia Sheau Fung, Consultant Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon at Beacon Hospital, emphasises the potential of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as an effective technique that administers targeted radiation during surgery.

This method can lead to improved outcomes with fewer side effects, as it minimises harm to surrounding healthy tissue. In some cases, patients may need just one IORT session, replacing multiple EBRT sessions.

Who is Suitable for IORT?

IORT is personalised and may not be suitable for all patients or brain tumour types. Dr. Sia advises discussing IORT’s benefits and risks with healthcare providers to determine the best treatment plan for the best outcome.

Beacon Hospital offers a specialised team of neurosurgeons and oncologists to evaluate patient eligibility and provide comprehensive care involving a range of medical professionals.

For full article, source: SinChew