The Lithuanian boxing champion saw the first signs of an insidious disease weakened by the sporting load

“It was a bit strange that the body became sensitive. I was plagued by constantly recurring inflammations, and the body barely struggled with them. I thought I was weak from too much exercise or stress, but I didn’t even think I had any problems. of serious health ”, said the athlete.

Austėja’s symptoms of the illness were varied: she had constant headaches, irritability and fatigue. After experiencing another trauma, the girl decided to visit a doctor who performed an MRI of her head without expecting anything.

“The doctor suspected that he might have a head tumor and that fluids were accumulating around him. He urged to go to the Kaunas clinics without delay, “he recalls.

After detailed examinations of the patient’s state of health, the suspicions were confirmed: hemangioblastoma was diagnosed, a benign tumor of very rare vascular origin, which amounts to only 2%. all tumors of the central nervous system. According to neurosurgeon Karolis Bareikis, a doctor at the Kaunas Clinics Neurosurgery Clinic, the main symptoms of this disease are morning sickness and headache.

“The patient Austėja complained about them,” says the doctor.

Despite the fact that the tumor is benign, such derivatives are always dangerous and must be removed as soon as possible. The best way to treat hemangioblastoma is surgery, so in the Kaunas Aust realizója clinics he performed tumor removal surgery.

“This tumor pressed the brain on the patient’s head, causing the surrounding brain edema (swelling). The patient had to be operated on as soon as possible to eliminate the edema and restore brain function ”, says the director of the Kaunas Neurosurgery Clinic, Prof. habil. Dr. Arimantas Tamašauskas.

“According to the research, the more tumor cells that are killed, the better the prognosis in the future. These tumors have almost no signs of infiltration, mitosis, abnormal growth, multiplication or other malignancy and the World Health Organization (WHO ) considers that they have the lowest degree of malignancy and therefore have the best prognosis. The main goal of hemangioblastoma surgery is to remove the entire tumor with the least possible damage to the surrounding tissues, “adds K. Bareikis.

Teacher. skilled. Dr. A. Tamašauskas adds that these operations must be carried out with extreme precision, which is why the most innovative means are used.

“Brain tumor removal operations are dangerous. As a result, they use modern technologies: neuronavigation, integration and imaging of magnetic resonance images in a surgical microscope in real time, intraoperative ultrasound, ultrasonic pump for the safe removal of tumors, ”says the head of the clinic.

Although the operation was difficult, it went smoothly, and Austėja’s condition quickly improved after that. “Currently, the patient feels very well and slowly returns to active physical activity and training,” says K. Bareikis. “Although the prognosis is good, there is always a minimal risk of tumor recurrence, so it will be necessary to repeat radiological tests regularly.”

Austėja does not hide the fact that she undergoes frequent surgeries during training due to frequent injuries, but this time the girl felt anxious. “I trusted the doctors and knew they were the best team in the corner of my ring,” smiles Austėja. – The day after the operation I was able to get out of bed slowly and walk. All my life I will be grateful to prof. skilled. Dr. A. Tamašauskas, K. Bareikis and all the other doctors and nurses to save their lives and regain hope of returning to sports. “

K. Bareikis adds that the surgically removed tumor is only one part of the entire complex treatment: “Every step of the patient’s treatment must be done safely and professionally. The operating rooms and nurses, support staff, anesthesiologists-resuscitators, rehabilitators, pathologists, radiologists, oncologists and other specialists form a whole team, whose main objective is to guarantee the most effective and safe treatment for each patient in the Kaunas clinics ”.

Kaunas Clinics Neurosurgery Clinic is a pioneer in neurosurgery in Lithuania. The Modern Neurosurgery Clinic is one of the most investment- and innovation-intensive specialized centers in the modern medical system.

About 50 percent are covered here. Lithuanian patients in need of neurosurgical care, including almost all adults and children with the most serious neurosurgical diseases. Here around 300 brain tumors are operated on each year, including between 5 and 6 patients diagnosed with hemangioblastoma.