How Much Does Brain Tumor Surgery Cost In India?

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth or mass of cells in or around the brain. It can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant(cancerous) and it affects both children and adults at any age. In later stages, brain tumor also affects cranial nerves, pituitary gland, pineal gland, and the membranes that surround the brain. Symptoms of brain tumors include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, vision abnormalities, balance problems, memory problems, speech disturbances, tiredness, dizziness, feeling of pressure inside the head etc.

In India every year 40,000 to 50,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumors, among which 20% are children. Treatment for a brain tumor depends upon whether it is cancerous or non-cancerous. It also depends upon the symptoms, size, location, type, and grade of brain tumor. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, brain tumor surgery, and radiosurgery.

Cost of brain tumor surgery varies in different people according to the type, grade, location, and size of tumor. Brain tumor surgery cost also depends upon the hospital you choose for surgery, duration of hospital stay, surgeon’s fee, cost for other investigational tests, health status of the patient, and the insurance coverage of the patient. On average, brain tumor surgery costs around INR 190000 to INR 450000.

Also Read: How Recovering from Brain Tumor Surgery?

What is Brain Tumor Surgery?

As the name sounds, brain tumor surgery is a frightening procedure but it is completely quiet and safe. A neurologist will perform brain tumor surgery to remove the growth inside or around your brain to relieve the symptoms.

The following are the purposes for doing brain tumor surgery:

• To remove the tumor completely and to cure it
• To remove a part of the tumor that helps to delay the progression and to relieve the symptoms and to reduce the amount of tumor to be treated with radiation therapy or chemotherapy
• To drain hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in your brain)
• To improve the success rate of chemotherapy and other treatments (to enable direct access to chemotherapy, radiation implants and genetic treatment of malignant tumors
• To diagnose a brain tumor
• To remove or destroy as many tumors as possible
• To relieve seizures which are difficult to control with other methods

Also Read: Surviving and Thriving: Life After Brain Tumor Surgery

Types Of Brain Tumor Surgery:

The following are the different types of brain tumor surgeries:

Craniotomy: It is the most common type of brain tumor surgery preferred by neurologists to remove brain tumor. It is done under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will make a small incision on your scalp and cut an area of bone from your skull to get access inside the skull. Through this access, they will remove the tumor cells.

Neuroendoscopy: Neuroendoscopy or endoscopic brain tumor surgery (keyhole brain tumor surgery) is a minimally invasive procedure in which your surgeon will remove the tumor cells through small holes in your skull. In this type of brain tumor surgery, your surgeon will carefully make a hole into your skull through which an endoscope is inserted into the brain. The endoscopes guide surgeons to visualize the structures inside the brain by displaying them on a monitor. The surgeon uses the tiny forceps and scissors attached at the end of this endoscope to remove tumor cells.

MRI-guided laser ablation: It is a minimally invasive neurosurgical technique used to remove brain tumor. It uses laser ablations to destroy tumor cells. The benefits include less postoperative pain and a faster recovery.

Radiosurgery: Radiosurgery helps to treat benign brain tumors and brain cancers. The side effects include tiredness, dryness, itching, and sensitivity in your scalp along with hair loss.

The different types of radiosurgery are:

• Linear accelerator radiosurgery
• Gamma knife radiosurgery
• Proton radiosurgery

Also Read:  Understanding The Various Brain Tumor Causes

How Much Does Brain Tumor Surgery Cost in India?

The cost of brain tumor surgery varies for different people according to the type of surgery done, size, location, type, and grade of the tumor. On average, brain tumor surgery costs around INR 190000, with the minimum price starting from INR 95,000 and the maximum charge reaching up to INR 450,000.

Also Read: 8 Quiet Indicators of a Brain Tumor to Watch Out For

What Are The Factors Affecting The Brain Tumor Surgery Cost?

The following are the factors affecting the brain tumor surgery cost:

• Admission fees in the hospital
• Doctor’s charges
• Type of hospital
• Duration of hospital stay
• Investigational tests performed
• Age of the patient and health status 
• Insurance coverages 
• Postoperative follow-ups and medication charges

Also Read: Early Signs of Brain Tumor and When to Seek Help

What Are The Complications Of  Brain Tumor Surgery:

The following are the side effects of complications that result from brain tumor surgery:

• Infections
• Bleeding or formation of blood clots
• Injury to the brain tissue
• Nerve injuries that may lead to vision loss and hearing loss
• Variations in blood pressure
• Pneumonia
• Seizures
• Balance issues
• Speech difficulties and memory problems
• Brain swelling
• Leakage of spinal fluid
• In extreme cases stroke, coma, and death

How Long It Will Take To Recover From Brain Tumor Surgery?

Any type of surgical procedure will cause trauma to the body parts and it will take some time to heal. The recovery period varies in different people depending on the type of surgery done, location of the surgery, areas of brain affected by surgery, patient’s age and overall health. Before leaving the hospital your doctor will give a detailed explanation about caring for yourself at home and what you can expect during recovery. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and regular healthcare checkups help for a faster recovery.

Conclusion:

A brain tumor can be cancerous or non-cancerous. However, it is essential to have proper healthcare checkups and screening tests to diagnose it in earlier stages to improve the outcome. There are various treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, brain tumor surgery, radiosurgery, and immunotherapy available for the management of brain tumors. The treatment outcome and recovery depend upon the size, location, type, and grade of the tumor along with the general health status of the patient. 

A brain tumor surgery is recommended to remove a portion or full portion of the tumor cells to intracranial pressure and to relieve the symptoms, control the disease progression, and enhance the treatment outcome of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Costs for brain tumor surgery vary in different cities depending upon several factors like the hospital choice, surgeon's fee, duration of hospital stay etc. Visit IBS hospital to get the best treatments in neurology, book your consultation now.

FAQs

Q: Are there any side effects of brain tumor surgery?

A: Like other surgeries, brain tumor surgery may also have side effects or complications which vary from mild to significant. The possible complications are bleeding, infection, fluid leakage, nerve damage, swelling in the brain, disturbance in vision, hearing, speech, balance, and memory, and in extreme cases, it may even cause stroke, coma, and death.

Q: Can you live a full life after brain tumor surgery?

A: Some people have recovered completely and regained their normal life after brain tumor surgery. But some people experienced certain complications which lasted long term. It is difficult to tell what happened after the surgery prior to the treatment.

Q: How much does it cost for brain tumor surgery in India?

A: The cost of brain tumor surgery varies in different people according to the type, grade, location, and size of tumor. On average, brain tumor surgery costs around INR 190000 to INR 450000 in India.

By -Dr Aaksha Shukla | April 18, 2024 | 9 Min Read