Brain Stem Surgery in Turkey
The stem of the brain is the lower portion of the brain and is connected to the spinal cord. It contains bundles of very long nerve fibers which carry signals between the cerebrum and the rest of the body controlling muscles and sensation or feelings. Special brain stem centers also help regulate respiration and heart beating. The stem of the brain is divided into three main parts: the midbrain, pons and the oblongata medulla.
Some forms of Brainstem Gliomas can be surgically treated. If the brainstem glioma is in the midbrain tectum, the tumor generally develops gradually and appears as hydrocephalus at first. Hydrocephalus is relieved by the positioning of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), or ventricular shunt. A type of brainstem glioma that grows backwards out of the brainstem (called exophytic dorsal gliomas) is often a good candidate for surgical resection. In such cases it is possible to remove at least one portion of the tumor. Only usually early surgical resection is recommended for brainstem gliomas that occur at the junction of the brainstem and cervical spine (called cervicomedullary glioma).
