Fighting brain tumours: revolutionary therapy.A new treatment for patients suffering from certain types of brain cancer tumours called high-grade malignant gliomas is revolutionising the way doctors are treating this condition. After a neurosurgeon neurosurgeon a physician who specializes in neurosurgery. neurosurgeon A surgeon specialized in managing diseases of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves Meat & potatoes diseases Brain tumors, spinal cord disease Salary $245K + 15% bonus. removes a high-grade malignant glioma glioma /gli·o·ma/ (gli-o´mah) a tumor composed of neuroglia in any of its states of development; sometimes extended to include all intrinsic neoplasms of the brain and spinal cord, as astrocytomas, ependymomas, etc. from the brain, up to eight small wafers, each of 18mm diameter, are implanted im·plant v. im·plant·ed, im·plant·ing, im·plants v.tr. 1. To set in firmly, as into the ground: implant fence posts. 2. along the floor and walls of the cavity the tumour tumour or neoplasm Mass of abnormal tissue that arises from normal cells, has no useful function, and tends to grow. Cell abnormalities may include increased size or number or loss of characteristics that differentiate their tissue of origin. once occupied. The proprietary Gliadel wafer contains a precise amount of the chemotherapeutic drug carmustine. Once implanted, the wafers slowly dissolve, releasing high concentrations of the drug into the surrounding cells. The goal of this therapy is to kill any tumour cells left behind after surgery. One of the benefits of this system is that therapy begins immediately after surgery. In conventional treatment regimes, patients must let their operation-wound heal before radiation therapy can begin. A recent clinical study of the Gliadel wafer treatment has been conducted at 38 hospitals in 14 countries. Survival was prolonged pro·long tr.v. pro·longed, pro·long·ing, pro·longs 1. To lengthen in duration; protract. 2. To lengthen in extent. in patients receiving Gliadel wafers compared to those receiving placebo wafers. |
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