What started as persistent headaches soon became a life-altering diagnosis for a 22-year-old woman when her sudden seizure led to the diagnosis of a concerning, large brain tumor.  Headed by Dr. Sunil Kutty, Consultant Neurosurgeon, the team was successfully able to remove the tumor using a neuronavigation technology, allowing the young woman to improve her quality of life.

Headaches are a common occurrence in many people, but they turned fatal for this patient. Ms. Shruti Iyer (name changed)*, a 22-year-old resident of New Panvel, Navi Mumbai,  who is also an MBA student, had right sided headaches for the past two months.  On May 3, 2026,  the patient suddenly suffered a seizure and was admitted to NewEra Hospital for timely treatment.

Dr. Sunil Kutty, Consultant Neurosurgeon, NewEra Hospital, said, “The patient was admitted to the hospital on May 5, 2026, and immediately underwent a detailed neurological evaluation. She was started on antiepileptic medications, intravenous steroids, antibiotics, and supportive treatment. MRI imaging of the brain revealed a large tumor in the right frontal region of the brain, right adjacent to the motor strip.  That location is what made the case so delicate. One wrong move and she could lose the use of an arm or a leg permanently.  Given the size and location of the tumor, urgent surgical intervention was important for the patients.  Unfortunately, such tumors can increase pressure within the skull and also impact the normal brain function, causing repeated seizures, worsening neurological symptoms, brain swelling, and even permanent damage if not treated at the right time. Moreover, in young adults, symptoms such as persistent headaches, episodes of vomiting, changes in concentration, or seizures are neglected. So, in this patient’s case, the seizure was a red flag that led to timely diagnosis and prompt treatment.”

Dr. Sunil Kutty further added, ” Considering her young age and the critical location of the tumor, we decided to opt for the surgery without any delay for tumor removal and preserved the critical neurological functions. On May 6, 2026, the patient underwent a right fronto-parietal awake craniotomy with excision of the tumor with the help of advanced neuronavigation technology.  So, a craniotomy involves temporarily opening a small section of the skull to safely access the brain and remove the abnormal growth. During surgery, we saw that a firm tumor was compressing the surrounding brain tissue. Keeping her awake, and by asking her to move and respond in real time, it was possible to see which areas controlled her movement and steer around them. We opted for an awake craniotomy to monitor the patient’s sensorimotor functions and limb movements during the Surgery for precise tumor removal. Even real time neuronavigation guidance was also used to accurately locate and remove the lesion while protecting critical motor pathways. The surgery proceeded smoothly, and all neurological functions were preserved.”

Dr. Pankaj Chaudhary, Consultant Anaesthetist, said, “Awake craniotomy anaesthesia is “The Asleep Awake Asleep (AAA) technique is one of the most demanding protocols in neuroanesthesia. The primary clinical challenge lies in bringing the patient out of anaesthesia during surgery, achieving a precise plane of conscious cooperation where the patient can reliably execute motor commands such as moving hands or legs during tumor removal, then safely transitioning them back to general anaesthesia.”

Following surgery, the patient was closely monitored and underwent physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Dr. Sunil Kutty said, ” Despite undergoing major brain surgery, she was able to walk, move all four limbs normally, and maintain full muscle strength from the first postoperative day itself. Timely mobilization and rehabilitation are important in the neurosurgical recovery, and  she was discharged  on May 9th, 2026, and continues to do well.”

” Before the surgery, I was preparing for my MBA examinations, and I feared my dreams would be put on hold. Thanks to the successful surgery and recovery, I was able to appear for my MBA exams and felt happy. I am grateful to the entire NewEra Hospital team for saving my life,” concluded the patient, Ms. Shruti Iyer (name changed)