Brain Metastasis
Vagus nerve stimulation, also known as epilepsy pacing, uses electrodes to stimulate the left vagus nerve in the neck. The tips of the electrodes are attached to the is connected to the stimulator (pile) implanted underneath it in the collarbone area. The device can be programmed externally. It usually stimulates the vagus nerve every three to five minutes. for thirty seconds.
In which diseases is vagus nerve stimulation therapy used?
Brain metastasis occurs when cancer cells spread to the brain from other sites. In other words, while primary brain tumors originate from brain tissue, brain metastases are breasts, It is caused by tumor cells that form in other parts of the body, such as the lungs. Persistent headache is the main symptom for many people with brain metastases. However Depending on the area of the brain affected, other symptoms such as paralysis, visual disturbances, nausea or seizures may also occur. Which treatment is appropriate is usually is difficult to say. The type of tumor, the stage of the disease and the general state of health determine the treatment.
Symptoms
The brain is the center where all senses and many body functions are controlled. A brain tumor can therefore cause quite different symptoms depending on the area of the brain affected. Possible symptoms:
●Chronic persistent headache
●Paralysis
●Personality changes
●Changes in vision, smell, hearing or touch
●Epilepsy-like seizures
●Confusion or loss of consciousness
●Nausea and vomiting
●In some patients, metastases can press on a blood vessel or cause bleeding in the brain. In such cases, symptoms of a brain hemorrhage occur.
How is brain metastasis diagnosed?
After a physical examination, imaging methods are used for diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and PET are possible are options. MRI is often the best way to quickly assess changes in the brain.
In some cases, a tissue sample can be taken by biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. It is also important to check whether there are other metastases in the body. The tumor as a whole should be evaluated and treatment should be planned accordingly.
How is brain metastasis treated?
Unfortunately, it is difficult to say how successful treatment can be for patients with brain metastases. The individual stage of the disease and the type of cancer are important. The treatment focuses on relieving the patient's painful complaints.
Headaches, problems with thinking ability and other symptoms of brain metastases may not be caused by the tumor tissue itself. Brain metastases symptoms can also be triggered by the resulting edema. When the edema is treated, most patients quickly experience symptomatic relief.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can stop or delay tumor growth in some people. However, not all types of cancer respond equally well to chemotherapy.
Anti-hormone therapy: Some tumors, particularly prostate cancer and breast cancer, grow under the influence of hormones. Therefore hormone deprivation therapy or anti-hormone therapy is one of the most important treatment modalities for these types of cancer.
Targeted Drugs and immunotherapy: These modern drugs are playing an increasing role in cancer medicine. Tumor cells, so to speak, They attack the weak points where they differ from healthy cells. These drugs are not specifically against brain metastases, but against cancer growth in general. against tumors. However, it is not effective for all tumor types. The prerequisite is that the tumor, or more precisely the tissue of the brain metastasis, responds well to the relevant drugs.
Surgical removal of metastasis :Surgical removal of metastases in eligible patients with advanced symptoms can be a long can create a disease-free period. But there are important preconditions for surgery to be possible. For example, a small but very large number of brain metastases can be removed by surgery. Treatment usually prioritizes treating the main cancerous tissue causing the metastasis. If the cancer itself is under control metastases can be surgically removed. It may not be possible to remove cancerous cells close to important centers in the brain. Radiation therapy alone or can also be applied as a complementary treatment.
For information and treatment, you can contact Associate Professor Dr. Ali Yilmaz here.