A rare surgery for removing a TB cyst filled with pus in the pituitary gland of the brain of a 20-year-old girl, was performed at a corporate hospital here.
Tumour like TB infection in pituitary gland has been recorded in 54 cases but so far only three cases of TB abscess (accumulation of pus) are on the record world wide, before this case, chief consultant neurosurgeon of Seven Hills Hospital P.V. Ramana, who performed the rare surgery, said here on Saturday.
Incidentally all the three earlier cases were reported from India, which accounts for one-third of world's TB patients. TB can affect the lungs, abdomen, spine, genital organs but very rarely the brain. Talking about this case he said the pituitary gland, "the band master of the endocrine orchestra", lies next to the visual system and the main blood vessels and any damage in this region could lead to blindness, endocrinal disturbances and cerebro vasuclar complications and hence extreme care and good experience were needed to perform a surgery in this extremely risky area.
A college student from Berhampur, Odisha came to the hospital during December with complaints of headache and blurred vision for the last six months, sometimes with vomiting and irregular periods. She did not have other TB symptoms like fever, weight loss, etc. but when a MRI brain scan was done, the lesion was seen causing pressure on the optic nerves.
Dr. Ramana, assisted by Dr. M. Deepak and Dr. Vijay and anaesthesiologist Dr. Kuchela Babu performed the surgery. Trans-cranial (opening the skull) method was adopted using high speed drills and microscope. "After surgery the girl went back to her college and appeared for the year-end exams. Now, after three months after surgery we had a scan done on the brain and there was no trace of TB. She will have to take drugs for TB for 15 months,” Dr. Ramana said.
After surgery the girl went back to her college and appeared for the year-end exam, says doctors
