Uzbekistan woman who had brain complication after cancer gets new life

NEW DELHI: A 27-year-old woman from Uzbekistan, undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer that spread to her brain, was brought to a private hospital in the city with a visible swelling at the back of her head and worsening neurological symptoms. She underwent brain surgery in her home country months earlier. During that operation, complications forced surgeons to remove a portion of her skull, which could not be replaced. The missing bone left her brain exposed to abnormal pressure changes. Over time, brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid began bulging outward through the skull defect, a rare and dangerous condition. The patient developed severe headaches, visual disturbances, confusion and disorientation, and the swelling became clearly noticeable, limiting her ability to function independently. "This is unusual," said Dr Anurag Saxena, Neurosurgeon, Manipal Hospital, Delhi, who led the treatment. "Most brain herniations push the brain inward, such as in stroke. In this case, the absence of skull bone allowed the brain to be forced outward." Redo surgery in a patient with metastatic brain disease posed a high risk. After imaging and planning, surgeons repositioned the herniated brain tissue, drained accumulated fluid, repaired the brain covering and reconstructed the skull using a customised 3D-printed titanium implant designed specifically for her defect. Dr Saxena said the surgery was performed two weeks ago, and the patient was now stable. "She will not face difficulty in day-to-day activities like combing her hair or washing her head. The severe headaches and related symptoms were resolved. She can even dye her hair," he said, underscoring how the reconstruction restored both safety and normalcy. The patient recovered steadily, was mobilised early, and discharged in stable condition. Doctors said the case highlighted how personalised 3D-printed implants were changing outcomes in complex neurosurgery, even in patients with advanced cancer.