53-year-old Dagmar Turner performed classical music on the violin while a tumor was removed from her brain. The act was so that surgeons could possibly preserve her ability to play music…and it worked!
The former management consultant from the Isle of Wight in Britain was diagnosed in 2013 with a slow-growing tumor after suffering a seizure during a concert. She underwent radiotherapy to treat the tumor but it became more aggressive last year. She decided to opt for surgery to have it completely removed.
Turner’s operation was to remove a tumor from the right frontal lobe of her brain, the area close to the part that controls the fine movement of the left hand. To prevent any damage to her violin skills, Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, Consultant Neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital, came up with the plan. They would map her brain, open the skull and then get her to play as they removed the tumor.
While surgeons cut away part of her brain, Ms. Turner played music by Gustav Mahler, George Gershwin’s jazz classic “Summertime” and pieces by Spanish songwriter and singer Julio Iglesias.
“This was the first time I’ve had a patient play an instrument,” Prof Ashkan said. “We managed to remove over 90% of the tumor, including all the areas suspicious of aggressive activity while retaining full function in her left hand.”
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