Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 1/11/2012

Question
Dear Sir,

one of my friend was perfectly fine, but two weeks before all of a sudden he started feeling difficulty while speaking and then gradually his right side of the body became partially paralyzed although he was able to move but within three four days he was not able to walk himself his right eye started getting smaller, he went to see the doctor (Neuro Physician)and he advised for MRI after viewing MRI result he referred him to Neuro Surgeon and he diagnosed that my friend is having Pontine Glioma and its size is about 2.5 Cm and he straight away said that it cannot be operated, we should only pray for him because there is no cure for this disease in medical science, we consulted with two more doctors but they all said the same thing, then we heard about radiation treatment (Gamma Knife)of this type of disease we visited that hospital and after checking MRI report they told us that radiation treatment is possible and the size of Glioma will be reduced but it may reoccur in future and duration of reoccurrence depends upon the grade of Glioma and grade can be determine by doing biopsy although they said for radiation treatment biopsy is not mandatory, but in the mean time some other Neuro surgeons told that they just want to make money and radiation will not have any significant affect on Glioma.

Now my question is kindly give your honest opinion in the light of your knowledge and experience that does radiation treatment (Gamma Knife) has positive affects in this disease?

Apart from radiation is there any other treatment is available for this disease?

Please note that patient is living in Pakistan.


Thanks and Regards,

Muhammad asif

Answer
With that position in his brain his glioma is indeed not treatable with surgery. A biopsy IS however necessary in order to know its GRADE and therefore also its prognosis. Yes a tumour of that size should be treatable with the GammaKnife (as a matter of fact a Swedish invention made by the late professor Lars Leksell, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery of the Royal Karolinska Institute and the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm Sweden). However I can not guarantee a cure since experience with this method is not that long and malignant brain tumours often are not curable. But it will surely reduce his symptoms even if only temporarily and extend his remaining life span. And in the absence of any possible cure that may have to do at present. There are no other available treatments of any real use! So I recommend that it is tried. That is his only available chance!


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