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Brain Tumor

Brain Tumor

A brain tumor is found either in the brain itself or in the skull, pituitary or pineal glands. Brain tumors are those that originate in the brain. They can be malignant or benign. Malignant brain tumors grow in size rapidly and destroy surrounding brain tissues. A rapidly growing brain tumor can cause damage to areas of the brain that affect sight, movement, speech, hearing, balance and behavior. Secondary brain tumors are those that result from cancers occuring in other parts of the body, such as lung and breast.

Typical symptoms associated with brain tumor are persistent and severe headaches, blurred and double vision as well as unexplained nausea and vomiting. A person suffering from brain tumor may have speech difficulties and difficulty in balance. There might be seizures, changes in behavior and hormonal disorders. Some persons with brain tumor notice tingling in the limbs.

A general physical examination including checkup of vision, hearing and reflexes is conducted by the physician. CT allows a physician to view images of the brain. MRI scan and xrays of the head also aid diagnosis of brain tumor. Brain activity is measured with the help of tests such as MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and PET (positron emission tomography help in assessing brain activity. Angiograms assist in locating the blood vessels around a brain tumor. A spinal tap can detect any cancerous cells.

A biopsy of a piece of brain tissue is conducted to analyze the type of tumor it is. Surgery is one of the main treatment options for those suffering from brain tumor. Radiation and chemotherapy are used to destroy cancerous cells.

Neuro Ophthalmologist

All vision problems need not necessarily stem from the eye. Some vision problems involve the brain. Neuro ophthalmology is the sub specialty of both neurology and ophthalmology. A neuro ophthalmologist is a phycian who specializes in the diseases affecting vision that originates from the nervous system. Conditions such as optic nerve disorders, loss of vision from central nervous system disease, double vision diplopia and involuntary movement of the eyes nystagmus are some of the disorders under the purview of a neuro ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologsit attends to patients with disease or injury in the eye ball, cornea and the lens or into the eyeball at the retina inside the eye. If any problem occurs behind the eye in the optic nerve or in some distinct visual pathways connecting the brain, it requires the special skills of a neuro ophthalmologist.

A neuro ophthalmologist could be an ophthalmologist or a neurologist with additional special training. After completing a residency program in any one of the two specialty areas, they take a fellowship in neuro ophthalmology for a year or two before starting to practice as a neuro ophthalmologist. A neuro ophthalmologist attends to a full spectrum of neuro opthalmic conditions including evaluation, diagnostic and referral services of rare and complex disorders. A neuro ophthalmologist caters to:

Patients who suddenly lose part of their side vision.

Patients suffering from double vision.

Patients with unequal pupils.

A patient suffering form a stroke.

A patient with brain tumor

Patients who suddenly have their vision out of focus

Any and every patient with unusual vision problems.

In addition to the above, a neuro ophthalmologist provides emergency evaluation of a wide variety of disease that can cause visual loss. Unexplained visual loss can arise out of uncommon disease conditions like myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, mitochondrial disease and other muscular diseases that affect the eye. The neuro ophthalmologist uses special testing techniques including visual fields, visual evoked response, imaging studies such as CT, MRI and angiography and ultrasound to diagnose the disease patterns. It becomes necessary for the neuro ophthalmologist to work closely with other medical specialists to offer multidisciplinary care and solution for complex cases.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) represents a breakthrough in medical diagnostics and research. Nearly 60 million investigations with MRI are performed every year worldwide. This imaging technique was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 2003. MRI has been used since the beginning of 1980s. MRI is primarily used in medical settings to produce high quality images of the inside of the human body. Magnetic field of radio waves energy is used to capture pictures of organs and structures inside the body. The MRI scan used magnetic and radio waves and therefore there is no exposure as in X rays or any other damaging forms of radiation. Since radiation is not used, the procedure can be repeated without problems.

MRI is used to examine the joints, spine and the soft parts of the human body such as liver, kidneys and spleen. An MRI scan is used in the diagnosis of diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal gas, chronic pain, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, Cardiomyopathy, Devic's syndrome and headaches in children. It is used in to study specific conditions such as:

Trauma to the brain, bleeding and swelling in the head

Brain aneurysm

Stroke

Brain tumor

Tumors or inflammation of the spine

Trauma of the spinal cord

Problems of vertebrae or intervertebral discs of the spine

Tears and aneurysms in the structure of heart and aorta

Information on glands and organs in the abdomen

Structure of joints, soft tissues and bones of the body

To direct surgery or to defer surgery.

During a MRI Scanning procedure, patient is made to lie in a closed area inside a magnetic field. This creates claustrophobic sensation in certain patients during the procedure. Normally a mild sedative is given prior to the MRI scan and this helps to alleviate the claustrophobic sensation. The new open MRI is open on three sides and this helps to alleviate the feeling of claustrophobia. The new open MRI scanner provides quality imaging with highest performance specifications with a powerful and stronger magnet. Scanning is also done much faster. It has the ability to detect diseases more accurately.