Treatment of brain tumors that recur after surgery

Brain tumor recurrence after surgery is not uncommon but also very common, even after successful surgery. Therefore, being ready for this situation as well as considering the treatment methods of meningiomas recurrence after surgery is very necessary to ensure the quality of life as well as the life of the patient.

Meningiomas (brain tumors) are tumors that arise from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, not from the brain tissue itself. Usually, these tumors grow slowly over many years (as opposed to the rapid proliferation of brain cancers) and can also be removed with surgery.
Theoretically, all meningiomas are benign tumors. However, if they form in difficult locations such as in the area of ​​​​the meninges that surround nerves such as the optic nerve, vision will be affected. For these tumors, treatment will be more difficult.

According to studies, about 50% of meningiomas cases recur after 20 years of surgery. This explains why doctors always need to monitor patients regularly after treatment. According to experts related to meningiomas and neurologists, some factors will increase the likelihood of meningioma recurrence:

A new meningioma may arise from residual membrane attachments from the old tumor. Therefore, complete removal of the tumor and this membrane attachment through surgery is the best modality to limit the recurrence of meningiomas. However, there is still about 24%-32% chance of tumor recurrence after about 15 years, even after completely eliminating the above factors.
On the other hand, most recurrences of meningiomas are in the same location (about 95%). If a tumor is not completely removed for several reasons, a recurrence is possible.

Tumor size and location Due to the membrane at the site of tumor formation

When the meningeal tumor recurs after treatment, the patient will have some symptoms such as:
Headache, convulsions; Feeling tired, sleepy; Loss of consciousness, mood swings; Visual disturbances and impairments. Therefore, when you have the above symptoms, you need to see a doctor to clearly explain the situation in order to have the appropriate examination.

The treatment of brain tumors that recur after surgery will be indicated based on factors related to the type of brain tumor, tumor location, previous treatments and the patient's health status.

Re-surgery is a simple method that removes most of the tumours. However, this is not a good choice for those who have a recurrent brain tumor after surgery. In addition, some of the following people should not undergo surgery:
New tumor growth Rapidly progressing tumor Currently, doctors perform many different types of surgery for brain tumors.

Radiation therapy is a solution that uses high-energy X-rays to destroy tumor cells. If you are in the following cases, doctors may recommend this method:
Never had radiation therapy to the brain before or have not used this method for a long time. The tumor grows in another part of the brain. Simultaneous radiation therapy can prevent the recurrence of meningiomas, reduce the size of brain tumors in patients with poor health, and also destroy the "remnants" left from the tumor. tumor if surgery cannot remove it completely.
For large tumors or those near the lining of important nerves/blood vessels in the brain, doctors may use fractional radiation: only a small dose of radiation is used in one session. certain period of time.
In very rare cases, meningiomas that recur after surgery can develop into malignancy. Therefore, radiation therapy is also an ideal method.

Chemotherapy is the use of cytotoxic drugs to kill cancer cells. This is also a common type of treatment for brain tumor recurrence.
The most common types of chemotherapy today are:
Temozolomide Carmustine (BCNU) In combination with PCV

The treatment of recurrent meningiomas after surgery cannot be completely guaranteed, so symptoms will still be left in daily life.
To help patients improve symptoms somewhat, doctors can prescribe some control drugs such as:
Antiepileptic drugs to limit convulsions, seizures; Steroids to reduce swelling in the brain; Analgesic. In general, brain tumor recurrence after surgery is undesirable but highly likely to happen. Therefore, every patient needs to monitor the disease after treatment and if there are abnormalities, it is necessary to see a doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Vinmec International General Hospital currently has the professional conditions and technical means to effectively treat meningiomas. Vinmec gathers a team of highly qualified and experienced neurologists; modern medical equipment, up to international standards; professional service quality, helping to improve the efficiency of disease diagnosis and treatment.
For detailed advice on meningiomas and treatment methods, please come directly to Vinmec health system or register online HERE.
References: hopkinsmedicine.org, braintumor.org, cancerresearchuk.or