Pune: A middle-aged man from Somalia, who spent four agonising years battling unbearable headaches and bouts of generalised tonic-clonic seizures, has returned home transformed after undergoing a complex and life-changing brain tumour surgery at a private Pune hospital, paving way for hope and a new beginning.In Oct 2025, an MRI conducted in Somalia revealed a well-defined but aggressive and vascular lesion in the right frontal region of the man’s brain. Over the following weeks, the hospital’s international patient support team helped coordinate the necessary documentation and medical visa procedures. “Once the patient received his medical visa, we began preparations for the surgery,” neurosurgeon Dr Abhinandan Magdum from Inamdar Hospital said.The man arrived in India on Nov 10 last year and visited the hospital two days later for consultations and investigations. After a full health evaluation, he was admitted under Dr Magdum’s care on Nov 21.Doctors said the tumour was situated dangerously close to the superior sagittal sinus — a major vein responsible for draining blood from the brain. “Its location was the biggest challenge. The tumour was abutting the superior sagittal sinus and any injury to this area can cause severe bleeding,” Dr Magdum said. Considering the patient’s symptoms — seizures and persistent headaches — and the vascular nature of the tumour on imaging, the team recommended surgical removal.During the operation, surgeons performed a craniotomy (brain surgery) and carefully dissected the lesion to achieve complete removal. “The tumour was highly vascular, requiring constant haemostasis (blood flow). Our aim was total excision without damaging the superior sagittal sinus,” Dr Magdum said. After the surgery, the patient was monitored in the ICU for seizures and early complications. “He remained stable, experienced no further seizures and continued recovering without any weakness, speech issues or other neurological problems. Histopathology confirmed a grade 1 meningioma (a benign and slow-growing tumour) with a high mitotic index (rapid cell proliferation), indicating a greater risk of recurrence, for which he was advised regular follow-up imaging,” a doctor said.After completing two post-surgery consultations under the hospital’s follow-up protocol, the patient was declared stable and discharged on Dec 1 last year. He travelled back to Somalia on Jan 6 after final medical clearance to fly.Reflecting on his journey, the patient said, “When my headaches and seizures began, I was scared and didn’t know where to turn. From the first phone call to the day I walked out, everything was handled with care. I feel completely recovered and am grateful to the doctors and the hospital team in Pune for giving me my life back.”The doctors emphasised that persistent headaches, new seizures, visual disturbances, vomiting or sudden neurological changes should never be ignored. “Early diagnosis changes outcomes,” Dr Magdum added.
