UK doctors remove brain tumor through eye socket for first time, use keyhole surgery
In a U.K. medical first, 40-year-old Ruvimbo Kaviya successfully underwent a procedure to remove a tumor through her eye socket.
Kaviya was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023. Before the diagnosis, she had been dealing with headaches for a long time. These headaches worsened in February 2022, leading her to initially suspect a toothache.
However, a dental check-up ruled out any dental problems, which led her to seek emergency medical attention at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).
Kaviya’s MRI revealed meningiomas (a common brain tumor) located near her brain stem and left eye.
“The diagnosis came as a shock. It was an incredibly stressful and overwhelming time. The pain was severe, and managing my medication was difficult,” Kaviya said.
The tumors were difficult to remove through existing surgical procedures. These tumors were situated within the cavernous sinus, a challenging-to-reach area.
It was then that the surgeons chose to utilize an endoscope – a flexible tube with a camera – to remove the tumor.
“When I was told about the surgery, I stayed optimistic as the tumor was growing. Going ahead with the procedure was the best option for me,” Kaviya added.
Minimally invasive surgery
Surgeons led by Asim Sheikh and Jiten Parmar this minimally invasive surgical procedure. They accessed the tumor through a small incision (1.5 cm) on Ruvimbo’s eyelid.
“I was amazed by the recovery. I was only in the hospital for two days, with no side effects or swelling. I feel perfectly fine now,” Ruvimbo said.
Most of the current brain tumor surgery often involves large incisions and removal of parts of the skull, which leads to an extensive recovery period.
Skull base tumors require open craniotomy for removal. This results in trauma to surrounding tissues and a prolonged recovery period.
The experts state that this endoscopic transorbital approach provides a safer and less invasive option.
“This technique allows us to remove tumours without opening the skull or having to retract or compress the brain. The minimally invasive nature of the procedure significantly reduces trauma, enabling patients to recover faster with minimal visible scarring,” said Sheikh, Consultant Skullbase and Neurovascular Neurosurgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
3D modeling before surgery
The success of the surgery was due in part to innovative 3D planning by Lisa Ferrie, a Biomedical Engineer. A 3D model of Ruvimbo’s anatomy was created, allowing surgeons to practice the procedure beforehand.
“When the surgical team approached me, we used scans of Ruvimbo’s brain and skull to create a 3D replica model,” Ferrie explained.
“This technology enabled the team to study her anatomy in detail and prepare for the procedure with unparalleled accuracy. Seeing the model and knowing it contributed to this groundbreaking surgery is incredibly rewarding,” Ferrie added in the press release.
Ruvimbo’s successful surgery marks a major milestone in the treatment of skull base tumors. This approach holds the potential to improve the lives of patients with skull base tumors.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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UK doctors remove brain tumor through eye socket for first time, use keyhole surgery