Mary Tyler Moore – Veteran TV sitcom star Mary Tyler Moore, is set to undergo surgery to remove a meningioma – a tumor, usually benign, which may occur in the meninges, the brain of the outer membrane of protection.
“On the recommendation of his neurologist, who has closely followed for years, and a neurosurgeon, she decided to go ahead with this routine procedure,” an unnamed representative of the actress 74-year-old told People magazine on Thursday .
Alla Plotkin spokeswoman told the Associated Press on Thursday that a date for surgery has not been set.
Two neurosurgeons not involved in the care of Moore agreed that it is probably in no great danger of meningioma.
“Meningiomas are one of the most common brain tumors in adults. They are benign and in many cases complete excision [surgically removed], “said Dr. Arno H. Fried, the department of neurosurgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ” They are slow growing and are sometimes seen by a time to determine whether it should be removed. If a meningioma is large enough, causing the symptoms and growth, which should be removed. This is a common operation for a neurosurgeon to see cases of brain tumors as a significant part of their practice. “
Another neurosurgeon, said doctors often choose to operate on the basis of the nature of the tumor and any symptoms.
“Sometimes [the tumor] was removed before the patient develops symptoms, if we are concerned with the rate of growth,” said Dr. Anders Cohen, chief of neurosurgery at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York. “The symptoms are based on the location where it grows. Depending on which part of the brain, the tumor is pressing against the will determine the symptoms that can be as minor as headaches or seizures, or can affect movement, speech or vision. “
He added that the result of Moore after surgery is likely to be good.
“The outlook for the removal of meningioma is generally very successful, and much depends on the patient’s condition before surgery, and the size and location of the tumor,” said Cohen. “The vast majority of patients do well and return to their previous lifestyle.”
Moore is best known for his starring roles in two popular TV sitcoms, The Dick Van Dyke Show in the 1960 and 1970, beat Mary Tyler Moore Show. Moore also was nominated for an Oscar for her role in 1981′s Ordinary People. A type 1 diabetic for many years, international president of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
