>>There are a couple of things here. First, something inoperable a few years ago might be operable today. The technology for surgery continues to improve.
>>
>>Second, there's a continuum. Some tumors are clearly operable, while others are clearly inoperable. In between, there's a gray area (not to be confused with "gray matter" <s>) where doctors might reasonably differ about whether a tumor is operable and whether it's worth operating on.
>>
>>Third, with almost any serious medical decision, it's wise to get a second opinion.
>>
>>Tamar
>
>I think it's all about possible outcomes. Anything is operable, but the probable outcome for a given procedure may make the family decide whether or not to roll the dice.

Sure. With brain surgery, there's the issue of collateral damage. How much tumor can you remove and how much other brain tissue is likely to be damaged while doing it? In fact, that's why they do these surgeries with the patient awake--they monitor cognition throughout.

Tamar