Which hospital uses Magnetic Brain Stimulation to treat brain tumours in Singapore?

Doctor's Answers 1

The most commonly used form of magnetic brain stimulation in clinical practice is transcranial magnetic stimulation (known as TMS). This makes use of Faraday's law of induction (if you remember from physics) to create current flow within the brain, which, in turn, excites the neurons (mostly cortical interneurons) over where the magnetic stimulation is applied.

Magnetic stimulation by itself is not considered a treatment option for brain tumours. However, as an example, we have used transcranial magnetic stimulation prior to brain tumour surgery. By stimulating the brain region by region, it is possible to map out the critical brain structures surrounding the tumour. In this way, these brain regions can be protected during the surgery.

Similar Questions

What are stem cells and what is stem cell therapy? How useful is it in treating brain tumours?

Stem cells are a special type of cells that have the capacity to self-renew indefinitely and can give rise to multiple cell lineages. They are present throughout life and vary in their potential for further specialization. Some can give rise to all tissue types (pluripotent) while others are restricted to the cell types within one organ. The potential for these advanced cell therapies to completely change the treatment of diseases is immense. However, to date, the overall number of proven stem cell therapies remain small. They also require rigorous scientific and clinical evaluations.

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Answered By

Dr Nicolas Kon

Neurosurgeon

How do I know if the pain in my head is associated with a brain tumour or a spine-injury?

The majority of headaches are not due to a brain tumour and more often caused by a primary headache disorder such as tension or migraine headaches. However in some cases, headache can also be a sign of brain tumour especially when there are red flags. The red flags are a new headache, one that wakes a person up at night, or worse in the morning. Similarly a persistent constant headache that last for more than a couple of weeks without improvement would be a reason to seek medical attention.

Photo of Dr Nicolas Kon

Answered By

Dr Nicolas Kon

Neurosurgeon

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