When Dr. Bobby Mukkamala found himself on the other side of the examination table, he relied on Mayo Clinic’s advanced surgical techniques to return to his professional work.
During a professional conference, the typically eloquent speaker began slurring his words for about 90 seconds. At age 53, he initially dismissed it as a senior moment, but colleagues suspected a stroke and urged him to visit the emergency department. Though initially thought to be a minor stroke, an MRI revealed something more serious: a brain tumor. This began his patient journey that would eventually lead him to Mayo Clinic.
After diagnosis, Dr. Mukkamala consulted with neurosurgeons nationwide. His consultation with Dr. Ian Parney at Mayo Clinic stood out. Dr. Parney recognized the tumor was large, complex, and near critical speech areas of the brain. Unlike other surgeons who recommended two separate brain surgeries, Dr. Parney proposed a single awake craniotomy with speech mapping. During this procedure, patients answer questions while surgeons monitor brain activity to avoid damaging speech areas. Dr. Parney’s extensive experience—approximately 200 similar brain tumor surgeries annually—gave Dr. Mukkamala confidence that a single procedure was optimal.
In December 2024, Dr. Mukkamala underwent the awake craniotomy with speech mapping. The surgical team also used intraoperative MRI, which provides real-time, high-resolution imaging during surgery. Dr. Parney’s team integrated functional imaging into the operating room’s guidance system and employed new strategies like intraoperative electrophysiological mapping and fluorescence-guided resection. A novel electrocorticography technique helped identify functional areas without direct cortical stimulation.
The team successfully removed over 90% of the tumor without damaging speech areas. Within six weeks, Dr. Mukkamala was confidently delivering professional presentations to large groups.
Dr. Mukkamala’s cancerous brain tumor was diagnosed as a low-grade IDH-mutant astrocytoma. Following surgery, he met with neurooncologist Dr. Ugur Sener, who prescribed a targeted medication for remaining cancer cells. This less toxic approach allowed him to avoid standard chemotherapy and radiation, which often cause fatigue and nausea.
Although his life now resembles his pre-diagnosis routine, the experience permanently changed Dr. Mukkamala’s perspective. Having received his diagnosis alone, he now ensures his own patients never hear difficult news without support. He reflects that while his brain may be slightly smaller after surgery, it is happier and wiser.
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