I'm not a doc - so all I can say is that it has grown a little and he has scar tissue forming (gliosis). We had a person posting before with a meningioma that kept growing back and I don't know if she lurks around anymore but she had to have a couple of surgeries and finally radiation.
It does not seem to be growing super fast though - in two years in has only been not even half a cm on one side - but still you would rather it not grow at all.
Is he having mass effect or other side effects from it? They may want to leave well enough alone until they have to do something?
Hi. The MRI taken recently reads as follows: The current scans demonstrate evidence of the previous surgery at the left temporal fossa and some gliosis and volume loss in that area. The residual dural-based brightly enhancing mass is noted as before in the left upper temporal region. Features are consistent with a meniongioma. Direct AP and side to side dimensions on the axial view are 2.62cm and 2.71cm and this is identical when using the same measurement technique on the previous scans. On coronal imaging the current dimensions are 2.94cm x 3.12cm, i.e. 2.94cm side to side and 3.12cm vertically on coronal post-contrast image no. 3. On the previous scan the maximum dimensions in the coronal plane were 2.47cm x 2.33cm. No other abnormalities are seen. Conclusion: The evince of previous surger is noted again at the left temporal fossa and the residual brightly enhancing tumour, consistent with a residual portion of meningioma. On the current post-contrast axial imaging, the dimensions are identical to those of the previous scan of Sep. 2012. On current coronal post-contrast imaging there does seem to be a fractional increase in size when compared with the previous scan. Please let me have your comments. Regards.
Hi. Thanks went on to the internet and found video of skull base surgery. Very interesting. Will look for skull base surgeon in South Africa. Regards.
Hi. Please explain exactly what is skull base surgeons. Regards.
Thanks for your reply. His tumor is sitting on the left hand side of the brain. Why partial removal was done is also now known and also why radiation was not suggested is also not known. Anyway I will try and get more info from him. Thanks once again.
I am not a doctor, but I only know of anti-seizure meds but I don't know of any meds that shrink a meningioma.
Sometimes anatomy prevents removal - so it could be where the tumor sits that prevents total removal. Did he or his family get the reports so they know the before and after and get an explanation as to why it was a partial removal? In this case they may do radiation to shrink or kill the tumor. Again, depending on the location of the tumor, the risks can vary. Has that been discussed with him and his family?
There are also skull base surgeons who can use smaller instruments IF the lesion is operable - there are just so many factors here and little information. I hope he is getting other opinions, as well as getting his own records to know what is going on in his own body.