In a rare and advanced medical procedure, doctors at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) successfully removed a brain tumour through a patient’s eye socket, avoiding traditional open-skull surgery and offering her a new lease of life.
The patient, identified as Latha, a 50-year-old resident of Madur village in Chinnashankarampet mandal of Medak district, had been suffering from severe headaches for several years. Following medical evaluation, doctors from the hospital’s neurosurgery department diagnosed a tumour located deep within the brain.
According to Tirumal, part of the neurosurgical team, such tumours typically require major surgery involving opening the skull. However, the team opted for an innovative alternative— the Endoscopic Transorbital Approach (ETOA).
“Instead of conventional surgery, we accessed the tumour through the eye socket. Using a high-definition endoscope and 3D neuronavigation, we were able to completely remove the tumour,” Tirumal said.
The Endoscopic Transorbital Approach is a minimally invasive neurosurgical technique that uses the orbit (eye socket) as a natural pathway to reach deep areas of the skull and brain. The procedure allows for highly targeted access, significantly reducing the need for large incisions and minimising trauma to surrounding tissues.
Typically performed by a multidisciplinary team including neurosurgeons, ENT specialists, and oculoplastic surgeons, the procedure involves a small incision in the eyelid. Surgeons carefully retract orbital tissues and use specialised instruments along with an endoscope to access and remove the tumour, after which the incision is closed.
Medical literature, including findings published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, highlights ETOA as a promising approach for treating lesions in complex brain regions, particularly due to its ability to preserve critical structures such as optic pathways.
Tirumal noted that such advanced procedures can cost up to Rs 15 lakh in private hospitals. However, the surgery at NIMS was performed free of cost under government-supported schemes, including Arogyasri and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (LoC).
NIMS Director Nagari Beerappa congratulated the team involved in the successful procedure, including doctors Ramnath Reddy, Muralikrishna, Umamaheshwar, Srilatha, Swapna, and Abhinash.
The successful operation marks a significant step forward in the adoption of minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques in India, offering safer and more effective treatment options for patients with complex brain conditions.
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