Woman Plays Violin Whilst Surgeons Remove A Brain Tumour




A video captured at Kings College Hospital in London shows a woman playing a violin whilst surgeons remove her brain tumour. 53-year-old Dagmar Turner had done this to protect areas of the brain that allows her to play the violin.

The tumour had affected the part of her brain that involves delicate hand movements, in the right frontal lobe. These areas are incredibly close to the area that helps her play the violin, some parts of the tumour being as far away as a slither of a bank card. 

Turner had a seizure during a performance, in 2013, and was diagnosed with a large grade 2 (slow growing) glioma. She had undergone biopsy and radiotherapy to reduce her tumour, but in 2019 it became apparent that the tumour had grown and become more aggressive.

The violinist plays in the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra and explains, on an NHS news release, how, “The violin is my passion; I’ve been playing since I was 10 years old. The thought of losing my ability to play was heart-breaking but, being a musician himself, Prof Ashkan understood my concerns.”

For 2 hours before the operation Prof Ashkan and the neurosurgical team devised the surgical plan. They identified the areas of her brain that were more active whilst playing the violin and mapped her brain. They also discussed waking her up mid-surgery for her to play the violin. During the operation, Turner was brought around from the anaesthetic and she played the violin whilst they performed surgery on her.

Three days after her procedure Dagmar went home to her family and, whilst she is still being monitored by the hospital, is well.

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