By Becky Wiese
Brain surgery is a scary — or at least intimidating — idea to most people; and not without reason. Opening the skull and performing intricate procedures, often with the goal of removing a mass that does not belong there, can be very complicated because of the brain’s elaborate structure and significant purpose to the overall function of the human body. Missing something or getting too much of what should have been left can have devastating effects, simply because the brain is command central for, well, everything.
Thankfully, here in Bloomington-Normal, the neurosurgeons at Central Illinois Neuro Health Sciences (CINHS) — Drs. Ann Stroink, Jason Seibly, and Emilio Nardone — are well qualified and experienced in performing intricate and complicated surgeries in the brain and spinal cord.
As Dr. Emilio Nardone, a neurosurgeon at CINHS for the last 16 years, explains, “Although Bloomington-Normal is not a large metropolitan area, we have the personnel with experience and skills as well as availability of equipment and support staff to perform many complex neurological procedures that people may think they would need to go to a large city or institution to have done.”
It seems to be human nature that when we get a severe headache, especially one that lasts longer than the pain medication we take to alleviate the symptoms, we jump to the worst case scenario and worry about having a brain tumor. “Not everybody has a tumor,” says Dr. Nardone. “Often, persistent and ongoing headaches can be classified as migraines, especially if the headaches started in a person’s teens or 20s.”
“More worrisome is a new onset of headaches as an adult, especially with no similar prior symptoms, and no association with other diseases or medical issues,” he goes on to explain. “Headaches that worsen with strain, such as sneezing or coughing, or those that include nausea or vomiting should be investigated.”
Other symptoms that may accompany a brain tumor include: vision issues, seizures, short-term memory loss, difficulty speaking or understanding, numbness in the arms or legs, lack of balance and coordination, and even changes in personality.
A complete physical examination and history is likely to be followed by a CT or MRI of the brain. A CT scan is most suited to investigate for trauma, fractures, contusions, or bleeding, while an MRI is a better test to reveal lesions such as tumors.
If either of those tests show a tumor, a treatment plan is initiated. Tumors are “graded” based on the type of cells involved. Grade I tumors are benign and typically grow slowly. Grade II tumors are called “low-grade” because they are usually slow growing. Grade III and Grade IV tumors are considered malignant, fast growing, and infiltrating the brain.
Dr. Nardone goes on to say, “The majority of brain tumors are treated with surgery, although with some benign or low grade tumors, the plan may be to monitor with serial imaging, such as with the slow-growing and usually benign meningioma.” In addition to surgery, other treatments may include radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Dr. Nardone’s training and experience are good examples of the expertise available here in central Illinois. Trained in neurosurgery, he did a fellowship in brain and spine tumors at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. “We saw only the most complex cases there,” he says. “It was in-depth experience in only the most difficult cases.”
Most beneficial for patients is the fact that expert physicians and surgeons, highly-skilled support personnel, and state-of-the-art equipment is available so close to home. And being home, where it’s comfortable, familiar, and near loved ones, can be a strong tonic.
Next month: “Brain Surgery Can Be Life Changing.”
Central Illinois Neuro Health Sciences is located at 1015 S. Mercer Avenue in Bloomington. For more information or to schedule a consultation, you may contact them at 309-662-7500 or through their website, www.cinhs.com.
Photo credit: Yuri/iStock