The brain is the most important part of the human central nervous system. Together with the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal column, they control all the organs and systems of our body. Both the brain and the spinal cord are connected to the rest of the body through nerves - cranial and spinal. The brain is responsible for functions such as vision, touch, smell and hearing.

The human brain consists of nerve cells - neurons, which are interconnected by special processes. The brain itself consists of two hemispheres - the right and left, cerebellum and brain stem. Each of these parts has its own functions, for example, the cerebellum is responsible for the coordination of movements, and in the brain stem there are vital centers of respiration and cardiac activity. The brain stem then passes into the spinal cord, which is located in the spinal canal.

Between the brain and spinal cord is the so-called brain stem. It contains centers that are responsible for functions such as heartbeat and breathing and some others.

Nutrition of the brain is carried out both through blood vessels, and cerebrospinal fluid - a transparent liquid with a certain composition. It washes the brain and circulates in its cavities, so-called ventricles of the brain. The brain and spinal cord itself are covered with meninges - soft and hard.

The brain - the structure is fragile and delicate, so nature has reliably enclosed it completely in the bone frame - the skull, protecting it from injuries and environmental influences. However, the disadvantage of such protection is that any pathological process in the brain - infection, hemorrhage or tumor - leads to compression of the brain tissue. That is why the nature of the brain tumor is not so important - benign or malignant, like what area it is in and how much it compresses the brain.

Treatment of brain tumor should be individual. The methods of treatment depend on factors such as age, general health and the presence of concomitant diseases, as well as the size, location and type of tumor.

Surgical treatment of brain tumors

In most cases of brain tumors, surgical treatment is performed. The purpose of surgical treatment is to identify tumor and its surgical removal. If  tumor is located in a place in the brain that cannot be removed, surgeon performs a biopsy to determine the type of tumor.

In some cases, most of them with benign tumors, surgical removal of the tumor can completely eliminate the symptoms of the disease. If possible, neurosurgeon tries to remove the entire tumor.

The difference from surgical interventions during conventional abdominal operations for malignant tumors is that in those cases surgeon can excise not only the tumor, but also grabbing healthy tissue along the edges, minimizing the risk of tumor recurrence. In the case of the brain, this is not possible, since every millimeter of the brain is responsible for certain functions of the body.

If the tumor blocks the free flow of cerebrospinal fluid, or impedes the movement of blood through the vessels, then as a preoperative preparation, shunting can be performed - the system of flexible tubes, which will play the role of artificial cerebrospinal fluid, can be performed. Operation is performed under the control of MRI.

Direct removal of a brain tumor can be performed:

with a scalpel;
laser: it will evaporate the mutated cells using high temperature;
ultrasound: the tumor is divided into small pieces with a high-frequency sound, after which each of them is removed from the cranial cavity by suction by pressure. Possible only on confirmed benign tumors;
radio knife: in addition to evaporation of the tumor tissue, which immediately stops tissue bleeding, the nearby brain areas are irradiated with gamma rays.

Today, in the treatment of brain tumors, as well as other pathological formations, such as cysts, hematomas after traumatic brain injuries, etc. endoscopic surgery is used. Endoscopic intervention is an intervention without wide incisions, using special endoscopic techniques. In addition, fluid can be evacuated endoscopically from the ventricles of the brain in children with hydrocephalus (ventriculoscopy).