Brain tumour : Early diagnosis rises 40% in eastern India, saves lives

Kolkata: Advances in awareness and care have raised early brain tumour detection by 30%-40%, even as delayed referrals and MRI access continue to affect outcomes in aggressive cases like glioblastoma, according to a report by neurologists from Bengal and Bihar. Patients with early neurological symptoms often undergo multiple consultations before reaching neuro-oncology specialists, leading to delays in MRI-based diagnosis despite the widespread availability of imaging facilities, it said.Brain tumour symptoms are frequently misread for months before a neurological evaluation is sought, leading to poor treatment outcomes in the form of delayed recovery, permanent disabilities or death, said neurologists ahead of World Brain Tumour Day on Monday. Persistent headaches, recurrent vomiting, vision disturbances, unexplained seizures, memory lapses, personality changes, difficulty with balance, or progressive weakness in a limb are often attributed to less serious illnesses, allowing brain tumours to develop and reach a life-threatening stage, they pointed out.“Unexplained headaches or dizziness, even fainting, are often attributed to stress, migraine, fatigue, or the general effects of ageing. By the time these explanations are exhausted and a scan is done, the disease has often had considerable time to progress,” said Amitabha Chanda, director of neurosurgery, CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI. He added that on World Brain Tumour Day, one of the most important messages to convey is that the assumption that a brain tumour diagnosis is inherently untreatable or invariably malignant is wrong. “Many brain tumours are benign. Among those that are malignant, the clinical picture varies considerably depending on tumour type, location, and how early it is identified. Early diagnosis does not guarantee a particular outcome, but it expands the range of treatment options available and gives both the patient and the surgical team more to work with,” Chanda added.Early detections have increased due to greater awareness among patients and a wider availability of diagnostic facilities, said Charnock Hospital neurosurgeon Rohit Mishra. “While earlier patients would ignore a sudden headache or dizziness, now more seek doctor’s advice. As a result, MRI and scans are done quicker and diagnosis happens early. Faster diagnosis always leads to a better outcome. Even though most brain tumours are non-cancerous, surgical intervention is the best possible treatment, depending on factors like the stage and size of tumour, patient’s age, among other things,” said Mishra.According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), national cancer estimates published in 2024 (based on registry trends up to 2023-24) show a continuing rise in cancer incidence in India. Central nervous system (CNS) tumours account for a small but significant share of the cancer burden, with brain tumours forming the majority of CNS cases reported across population-based registries. Mortality remains high in malignant brain tumours, particularly gliomas, where 5-year survival is reported at below 30%, highlighting ongoing gaps in early diagnosis and access to advanced treatment.Anupam Datta, radiation oncologist at the Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata, said a consistent diagnostic pathway was contributing to delays across eastern India. “Patients from states including Assam, Nagaland, and Tripura frequently undergo multiple consultations before reaching a neuro-oncology centre. In many cases, individuals with early symptoms such as headaches or visual disturbances initially visit ophthalmologists or ENT specialists for months before a neurological evaluation is considered. By the time MRI imaging is performed, valuable diagnostic time has often already been lost.Brain tumour symptoms are muted, so they are ignored initially, said Mishra. “Even a cancerous tumour can be treated with better results if it is detected by stage 2 or 3. It is happening more often now than ever before,” said Mishra.