Chennai, May 21, 2024 – In a medical feat akin to landing on the moon’s unexplored terrain, a team of neurosurgeons at Apollo Cancer Centres (ACCs), Chennai, India, were able to achieve what was once thought impossible – accessing and removing deeply seated insular brain tumor through a transformative and a novel eyebrow keyhole approach. This unprecedented technique, being the world’s first, marks an important advancement in the field of Neuro Oncology. It provides not only another alternative to remove these deep seated brain tumors but it also demonstrates clinical excellence, efficiency and safety.

The journey began with the diagnosis of a 44-year-old woman found to have an incidental tumor nestled within the delicate folds of her dominant-side insular lobe of her brain. A scan conducted following a minor trauma revealed this lesion in the intricate area known as the insula.

The insula, which is deeply embedded within the cerebral cortex, poses significant challenges for surgical intervention. It is surrounded by vital areas controlling functions such as speech and movement and is layered by a dense network of blood vessels. Traditional surgical approaches require navigating through critical brain tissue and blood vessels, risking paralysis, stroke, and language impairment. Often, patients must remain awake during surgery, adding to their distress and increasing the risk of complications such as seizures and brain bulges. Despite these risks, surgery remains the primary option.

Recognizing the daunting task ahead, especially in patients with minimal symptoms, the neurosurgical team at Apollo Cancer Centres pioneered a groundbreaking approach, stepping away from the conventional treatment plan. Leveraging their prior experience with keyhole surgeries for skull base lesions, the team developed a similar strategy to reach previously uncharted areas of the brain. This new keyhole approach via a minuscule incision in the eyebrow to the insula was born out of meticulous

planning, cadaveric feasibility studies, and advanced computer simulations that promises a safer and more direct route, minimizing the potential risks involved in conventional approach..

Dr Hrishikesh Sarkar, Senior Consultant – Neurosurgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, “The impact of this achievement cannot be overstated. Like the historic landing of ‘Chandrayaan’ on the moon’s south pole, this groundbreaking surgical approach of Apollo Cancer Centres, opens up a new frontier in neurosurgery. The eyebrow keyhole approach offers a transformative alternative to reach these deep seated tumours inside the brain, minimizing invasiveness, reducing collateral damage, and significantly enhancing patient safety and overall quality of life.”

Dr. Agnetia Vinoth, Consultant – Neurosurgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, said, “Faced with a profoundly intricate case, our neuro team were compelled to challenge the conventional boundaries of neurosurgery. Opting for an unconventional route, we utilized the eyebrow keyhole approach, an ‘out of the box’ technique that minimized risks and maximized safety for our patient.”

Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd, said, “At Apollo Cancer Centres, our commitment to innovation has once again placed the Indian Medical Science on the global stage. This world’s first feat is not just a victory for the doctors, patients, or the hospital; it’s a triumph for the entire nation. It demonstrates India’s ability to trailblaze breakthrough medical innovations with the potential to advance healthcare globally. Thanks to eminent medical talent in our country, we are ever-innovating, exploring, seeking, and forever-evolving in healthcare.”

The Cancer Winner said, “I am deeply thankful to Apollo Cancer Centres for making my surgery less challenging and ensuring swift recovery. The care and advanced treatment I received not only healed me but gave me hope, comfort, and a shorter return to normalcy. I thank the team of neurosurgeons for treating me with utmost care and offering me with a new lease of life.”

This first-of-its-kind clinical milestone by Apollo Cancer Centres demonstrates the power of innovation, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in healthcare, cementing its status as a beacon of medical innovation and advancement on the global stage.

#WinningOverCancer

About Apollo Cancer Centre – https://apollocancercentres.com/

THE CANCER CARE LEGACY: BREATHING HOPE INTO LIVES FOR OVER 30 YEARS

Cancer care today means 360-degree comprehensive care, which requires commitment, expertise, and an indomitable spirit from cancer specialists.

Apollo Cancer Centre has a network across India with over 325 oncologists to oversee the delivery of high-end precision Oncology Therapy. Our oncologists deliver world-class cancer

care following an organ-based practice under competent Cancer Management Teams. This helps us in delivering exemplary treatment to the patient in an environment that has consistently delivered an international standard of clinical outcomes.

Today, people from 147 countries come to India for cancer treatment at Apollo Cancer Centre. With the first and only Pencil Beam Proton Therapy Centre in South Asia & Middle East, Apollo Cancer Centre.

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