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Topic: Neurosurgery

Displaying questions 1 to 25 of about 34

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My mother has been diagnosed with brain metastases stage 4. Her cancer was originally from the lung. They found 2 tumors inside her brain. She was given the option to pick two kinds of radiotherapy.....targeted radiotherapy and whole brain radiotherapy. She is age 55 and the dr's advice was to do a targeted radiotherapy, but we are afraid that the chances of that specific treatment will be cause for a high rate of reoccurence. I badly need some advice regarding a possibility for treatment with a combination of whole brain and targeted radiotherapy together. The question is how bad will be the side effects and and which process of radiotherapy will be best.c
I am researching treatment for the following condition for my husband - spinal tumor having been treated by: Surgery - Atypical meningioma WHO grade II C2-C4 - 2001 Conventional Radiotherapy (54 Gy) 2003 Surgery 2008 Surgery 2009 Cyberknife July 2009 - (CK 4404; volume 2.6; D = 16 Gy (70%) Brian has just had an MRI which has shown an increase in the size of the tumor. Previous scans following Cyberknife showed no increase in size and then a small reduction. We now have a growth with little options left. Could REOLYSIN be an option even if on trial? Any help would be appreciated. We feel that time is running out.
I had a large meningioma partially removed 5 years ago. Over this time what was left has invaded the bone and grown into my middle ear; it is now creeping towards my carotid artery. I have lost hearing, have balance problems, and the facial nerve is also now involved. At this time, what type of doctor would be best to manage the treatment - a neurosurgeon or neurotologist? Gamma has been approved but there is a question about who works with the radiation oncologist since it is a meningioma. It is not affecting the brain - it is working pretty good and my neurosurgeon told me this was an ENT problem. I have seen 2 radiation oncologists, 1 neurosurgeon, 1 ENT and 1 neurotologist. My insurance company has been pretty good until now. Surgery is not an option.
I have an AV shunt in place for adult hydrochephalus and they raised the setting from 1.5 to 2.0. Is this draining more fluid off my brain or less?
Can a subarachnoid cyst in 6.5cm X 4cm in middle cranial fossa (right temporal region) cause behavioral changes, mania?
My name is Thomas, 37, and I was diagnosed with a possible LGA 6 months ago. Three MRIs and a fMRI were performed. I want to undergo surgery. My tumor is located near the motor cortex (paracentral lobule of the left superior parietal lobe). As I am living in the Philippines, I consulted a center in Singapore and one in Austria. Singapore wants to perform an awake operation with intra-operative testing of function under surgical navigation while Austria is saying that I do not need an awake operation and that this wouldn't be beneficial for me. They are saying that they intend to perform mapping during surgery while i am anesthetized. How does this work? What do you recommend? Would the awake operation give me an edge?
My daughter (32) just had an MRI yesterday. The doctor was looking to see what might be causing her sinus and droopy eye problem. She also has had headaches, nausea, and numbness in the right side of her face. MRI showed a small mass on the right side of the brain (I am guessing near her temple, but do not know). She is sending her to see a neurosurgeon. After reading a lot on the web, I am getting really scared. Can you tell me how will they diagnose what kind of tumor it is? I am guessing biopsy? Is this correct and what kind of complications can happen with this?
My father (78 years old, no other history of illness and no other cancer) has been given a preliminary diagnosis of GBM. The tumor is in the temporal lobe and the size of a grape. There is no neuro-oncologist at this hospital. Should we go through with removal and then seek a second opinion once we have a diagnosis based on a tissue sample? My father seems convinced that there are no treatment options that could be effective considering the size of the tumour.
I have just learned I have a Pineal cyst and have been referred to a neurosurgeon from my neuroligist. This is new to me. What can I expect?
My husband has communicating hydrocephalus and has had 5 shunt revisions in six weeks. He has a tube leading from the shunt to his belly and the CSF is not being absorbed by his belly so it is leaking through the skin in the belly. Where else can his doctor put the tubing so that the CSF can be absorbed?
I am a 40-year-old female who had a partial resection in May, 2003. The path MRIs every 3-4 months. The only change has been a speck of a change from May, 2003 to this past MRI, March, 2004, but they tell me not to I was born. I am on anti-convulsants due to the fact that I still have small partial focal episodes every 4-6 days. I am actively trying to get pregnant with my first child before it is too late as I am 40 and things could change in the future. All my doctors tell me to go for it. In labor, the ob-gyn tells me she will be sure the baby slides right on out as to eleviate any pressure to my head. Has anyone ever known anyone with my issue?
I am a 32-year-old male and was diagnosed 4 years ago with a non-functioning pituitary adenoma. Originally it was 2 x 3 mm, a year later it was 5 x 5 mm, and 6 months ago it was 6 x 6 x 10 mm macroadenoma. The tumor is asymptomatic, however, I have mild headaches that are focused behind my eyes and mostly feel like sinus pressure. I am also an army national guardsman in the military and currently deployed in Iraq. Last week I had a follow-up MRI at a military hospital in Germany and it was reclassified at 5 x 5 mm, from a different radiologist. My endocrinologist stated that these tumors have a mind of their own and it isn’t abnormal for the sudden change. She also stated that she will get the previous MRI done in the States and have her staff compare them side by side. The peculiar thing is that the readings from the current MRI placed the tumor on the right side of the pituitary and the MRI from 6 months ago said it was on the posterior. I have a copy of my MRI on disk and looked at the results. I am able to see a dark circle on the right side of the pituitary that measures roughly 5 x 5 mm, but on the cross-sectional image, there is also a 8 x 11 mm dark circle which I believe is on the posterior. Is it possible to have two tumors or is it more likely that one of the readings was inaccurate? It was also ruled out 6 months ago for surgery based on the recommendation from an Army neurosurgeon, based on the lack of symptoms. Is there a general rule of thumb for surgery for this type of tumor, or is it based more on location and symptoms?
My mother had surgery on 2 occasions for a brain tumor and was diagnosed with GBM. After surgery, she underwent seven weeks radiotherapy with not much problem. At present, she has undergone one chemotherapy course out of six courses. Her age at present is 60. What are the further courses of action? Also, please let me know the seriousness of the problem, and the length of time my mother will have, and also the medicines avalable in India for controlling this tumor against reoccurence?
Is mustard gas still used to treat brain tumors ?
I am 25 years old and have suffered with migraines for several years. Recently, my migraines changed along with my symptoms. For example, my vision, I cannot stop the shaking in my hands, lightheaded, slurred speach, etc. In January, I went in for a MRA without contrast and a 1.2 cm pineal lesion was identified. I went back two weeks later for a MRI with contrast and they found a well-defined, smoothly marginated 1.3 cm homogeneous cystic area identified in the region of the pineal gland. They said that the findings most likely represent a pineal cyst with some residual pineal tissue that is causing the enhancement. They also found that I have sinus disease. When I went to a neurosurgeon, I was told that the findings were incidental and that I have had the lesion since birth. I have had multiple MRIs and nothing was ever found before. He told me if my headaches change in 5 to 10 years to have another test done. I cannot wait that long. I am lucky that I still have my job. I have missed so much work, plus I have two young boys who are a hand full and it is very hard for me to take care of them when I have a migraine for 5 days and end up in the hospital. I have alot of questions and it seems like I just get brushed off. Could this be causing my migraines? Is it dangerous? Is this something that will require surgery?
My husband had an Oligodendroglioma removed this past summer. He is doing the watch and wait protocol. He had a complete resection. Do you think this is standard? Would you watch and wait if this was your situation?
My brother just had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Do you have any recommendations on when, or if, his 2-year-old and 4-year-old children should visit the hospital after the surgery? Any suggestions for how to introduce the new turban on daddy to the kids? He is very mentally alert and walking around the day after surgery.
My son is hydrocephalic, has 2 VP shunts, one in an arachnoid cyst, and slit ventricle syndrome. My question is: is there enough water around his spine being he is so shunted? I wonder about his back; does a shunted person have enough spinal fluid? His spine seems concaved and rounded shoulders. He is 14 and I noticed his back is not flat?
I was recently diagnosed with 2 choroid plexus cysts, t4 and periventricular foci. I am having a hard time finding any info not related to fetus. Any information or direction would be a help.
I am 29 and had a gross total resection of a grade II Oligodendroglioma. Oncologists say that it is likely to recur, but neurosurgeons think a gross total resection can often be "curative". Who is more correct? I want to delay reccurance for as long as I can. What are my chances of this coming back 10-15 years after a gross total resection without any chemo or radiation therapy (i.e <50%, >50%, or >70%).
My husband was left disabled on the right side of his body after brain surgery several years ago. Is there a place in the US that are experts on recovery from this type of brain injury? I would like to know if there are any treatments that have been shown to be more successful than others.
My partner was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Astrocytoma two months ago. It is located above the thalamus and was biopsied only. He is completing six weeks of radiotherapy with 8 treatments to go. We have seen two neuro-oncologists who have differning opinions on chemotherapy. One of the doctors has advised treatment with BCNU commencing one month after radiotherapy is completed. This would be done every 8 weeks for a year. The other doctor has advised not using any chemotherapy until there is a recurrence. Can you please advise if there are any trial results on timing of chemotherapy and which chemotherapy regimen is most beneficial in the treatment of AA. Also, are there any other trial results that look promising? We are in Melbourne, Australia so have limited access to trials but are willing to fly to the States if need be.
Is a Superior Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis hereditary?
I had a tumor resected which was an atypical meningioma. Though this was 100% removed, the doctors say that it is better to have radiosurgery so that all the cells in this location will be killed. I am ready to go for this, but I am afraid of the side effects. I have heard that in the long-term, the part where the the brain was treated might get damaged. The tumor was right above the speech area of my brain. I am afraid that my speech area might get damaged if I have this treatment. After the surgery i was not able to speak due to swelling. But now i am able to speak abt 80% and i know that i will be fine in a few days. because i can see the changes in my speech. Will you please give your comments regarding the radio surgery.
When I was 10 years old I was diagnosed with AVM which caused me to have seizures for three years. After having brain surgery, I have been seizure free for 20 years. I want to know if there are any side effects to having this procedure done. The surgery was evasive (my head shaved, skull opened, staples to close it up, etc). Nine months ago I had a baby and would also like to know if this is hereditary.

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