New York, July 31. Indian-born US Army surgeon Major Jagatkumar Patel has achieved a major breakthrough in the treatment of brain tumors. He, along with his colleague, Army neurosurgeon Lieutenant Colonel Charles Miller, developed a new surgical technique that allows brain tumors to be removed through the nose without opening the patient’s skull. According to the Pentagon, this technique is minimally invasive and allows patients to recover faster.
Major Patel explained that previously, removing such tumors required open brain surgery, which was complex and risky. Now, if the tumor is the right size and location, it can be safely removed by approaching it directly through the nose. This new technique was recently successfully used on US Marine Staff Sergeant Andy Archer. He had been suffering from severe headaches for the past 15 years. When his vision began to deteriorate, an MRI revealed a tumor approximately 4.4 centimeters in front of the pituitary gland, which was pressing on the optic nerve.
He was then brought to Walter Reed Army National Medical Center in Bethesda, where Major Patel and Charles Miller performed this new procedure to remove the tumor through the nose. During the surgery, Major Patel used an endoscopic camera to create a safe passage through the complex nasal passage and displayed high-definition images on a monitor. Using these clear images, Lieutenant Colonel Miller completely removed the tumor. Patel explained that he moved the camera closer when necessary to provide the surgeon with a clearer view of the affected area, making the operation safer and more precise.
Most remarkably, Andy Archer appeared normal just two days after the operation. His eyesight had improved, and he had no serious symptoms, as evidenced by recent major brain surgery. Major Patel says that the expertise of his team at the Defense Health Agency is rare. However, he also clarified that this nasal surgery is not possible for every patient. The tumor must be of the correct location and size.