Scotland: Doctor removes brain tumours as big as apples from patients' eyebrows

A surgeon in Scotland has come up with a way to remove brain tumours as big as an apple through a patient's eyebrows. The technique is believed to be the first of its kind across the world. 

Consultant neurosurgeon Anastasios Giamouriadis of the NHS Grampian used the existing keyhole surgery technique to evolve a new method which leaves behind a lot less scarring.

He and his team have already performed 48 such surgeries where he removed the tumour from the front of the brain, something that has never been done before, The Independent reported.

“I have modified and developed the technique with my team and we are operating on very large brain tumours in the front of the brain and as far back as the middle of the brain,” he explained.

It is also less time-consuming and the recovery time is also quick. Giamouradis says many of his patients have been able to leave the hospital a day later.

He says lesser operating time and quicker recovery time also have a positive impact on the patients.

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Quicker surgery and recovery helps patients

“That makes a significant positive impact on the patient outcome. With normal, extensive craniotomies, the length of the operation is usually about eight hours and patients will spend days in the hospital."

He admits that the process is "more challenging technically", but the time it takes is possibly half of a regular surgical procedure to remove a tumour.

Doreen Adams,  a patient who had undergone an unsuccessful craniotomy, came to Giamouriadis who she says put her at ease instantly despite her still recovering from the previous operation. She added that she didn't face a lot of the usual after-effects of surgery either. 

“I felt great after the operation,” she said. “I was left with a black eye and it took a while for it to open, but that was all.” 

Giamouriadis hopes to one day teach the procedure to other surgeons through virtual reality. He told the publication that he is working with a team at the University of Aberdeen on the project which should be ready soon.