Brain Stem Tumours – Surgical Management

Abstract

O BJECTIVE: Our main objective was to assess the outcome of surgery in selected group of Brain Stem tumours.PURPOSE OF STUDY: This paper specifically looked at the role of definitive surgical procedures, total or near total excision of cystic or focal Brain stem lesions and their outcome as compared to minimal invasive surgery like stereo tactic biopsy for diffuse tumours. MATERIAL & METHODS: The study comprises of forty patients of brain stem tumours which were admitted and operated at the Neurosurgery Department of Allied Hospital, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. PERIOD: Jan 1991 to Dec 1998. RESULTS: The age of these patients were between five to forty two years, with peak incidence between eleven and fifteen years. There were thirty four children and four adults. The male to female ratio was 24/16 (1.5:1). Most of these patients had computerized tomography(70%) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (30%). The predominant histological type was astrocytomas Grade III (60%) and Grade II (30%). CONCLUSION: All cystic and focal tumours showed better results with radical surgery, compared to more diffuse tumours that had stereo tactic biopsy.