tumefactive

[ceeweed]

Does anyone have tumefactive MS? If so, how did your symptoms present and do you have long remissions between episodes? Were you officially diagnosed with it by your neuro? It is very rare.

[SharonCarter8071967]

Sorry about posting twice.

[SharonCarter8071967]

Hello, I have what I believe is TMS. I had a biopsy of the egg sized tumor with the ring around s black spot deep in the middle left of my brain. Adjacent to this is smaller, but still large mmk by normal MS lesion that is not active. I have no other lesions in the cervical or thoracic spine. Right now I'm on prednisone. My main symptoms are urinary incontinence, weakness and fine motor skills in my right side, muscles spasms, and some times when I'm really tired slurred speech. I also have eye and mouth droop on the right side. They still haven't diagnosed MS because this was my first incident that I had to be hospitalized, but I suspect I've had it for a couple years because if the other lesion and symptoms I just attributed to stress. I'm doing occupational therapy to help me write and type again do I can return to work. When I'm off the prednisone the symptoms return, but not quite as bad. I'm scared I'm going to develop more lessons and wind up in the hospital again.

[SharonCarter8071967]

Hello, I have what I believe is TMS. I had a biopsy of the egg sized tumor with the ring around s black spot deep in the middle left of my brain. Adjacent to this is smaller, but still large mmk by normal MS lesion that is not active. I have no other lesions in the cervical or thoracic spine. Right now I'm on prednisone. My main symptoms are urinary incontinence, weakness and fine motor skills in my right side, muscles spasms, and some times when I'm really tired slurred speech. I also have eye and mouth droop on the right side. They still haven't diagnosed MS because this was my first incident that I had to be hospitalized, but I suspect I've had it for a couple years because if the other lesion and symptoms I just attributed to stress. I'm doing occupational therapy to help me write and type again do I can return to work. When I'm off the prednisone the symptoms return, but not quite as bad. I'm scared I'm going to develop more lessons and wind up in the hospital again.

[kwarendorf]

Hi nevadennay - I'm sorry to hear about your boyfriend's diagnosis.

As others have said here, info on tumefactive MS is pretty scarce. I did a little looking and came away with the impression that what differs tumefactive MS from plain old MS is the lesions. In tumefactive MS the lesions are larger than normal and have the appearance of tumors.

THis is why there is talk of biopsy in conjunction with tumefactive MS. They need to make sure that the lesions that look like tumors aren't really tumors.

We may have some here with TMS experience. Because TMS is really MS, except for lesion size, feel free to ask us lots of questions.

Kyle

[nevadennay]

My boyfriend has just been diagnosed with Tumefactive MS, his family and friends all want to know more, like we do, which we don't.  Anyone know someplace to contact to get some layman's information on this topic.
thanks

[Mike_Shuswap]

All I can remember is that it is in the middle of my brain and is inoperable because of its location.

I hope you won't need to get a biopsy, but if it's possibly a tumor rather than a lesion it's best to know.

Good luck and keep us posted,

Mike

[ceeweed]

HI Mike,
just following up with  you about your tumefactive MS ... where was your lesion located? My neuro wants to send me to a neurosurgeon to look at potential of biopsy but it's in my frontal lobe so they are concerned about that.

[HVAC]

No two cases of MS are exactly a like. There are two things happening inflammation and nerve damage. It all depends on where the inflammation or damage is  as to which part of the body is effected. I have had MS for almost 48 years but is is very slow in progression. When I am around other MS patients I almost feel like I do not belong. I have many MS issues but I am so used to them. I guess I am lucky becuase I have known nothing but MS symptoms in my life and my progression is so slow.

[Mike_Shuswap]

Yup, UBC = univ. of British Columbia, I am a fellow Canadian.)

I do have other lesions on the brain, but non found on my c-spine by MRI and I've never had my t-spine scanned.

Thanks for the links, I'll read through them.

Mike

[ceeweed]

Hi Mike and supermum (JJ),

Thanks so much for your responses and research. And Mike - by UBC do you mean univ of british columbia? you are a fellow canadian?

anyways, i am surprised that your neuro didn't mention tumefactive ms as my research says, that is the type for larger lesions. Do you have any other lesions (smaller?) anywhere?

I am thankful that i did not need a biopsy. the neurosurgeon said it was not a tumor so by default, more than likely it is an ms lesion as i have a couple small ones as well.

I am hoping my new neuro ms specialist will have more knowledge on this type of ms because like you JJ, i did read as well that it may not be a bad form (ie, many years between relapses and not overly progressive) - so that's all good news - there is more cognitive problems associated however depending on where it is ... but again, not sure if this is research based or people's observations.

mike, you can find more info at http://www.tumefactivems.blogspot.ca/p/about-us.html

http://mandyhealth.blogspot.ca/p/tumefactive-ms.html

http://tumefactiveandactive.wordpress.com/medical/

but i am hoping to hear more from first hand people from this community about what to expect.

[Mike_Shuswap]

I'd never heard of Tumefactive MS till I read your post, so I did a little web research.

I was very surprised to read about the lesions being large and tumor like looking, I had/have at least one of those.

My largest lesion, I don't recall the measurement but but do remember being told it was walnut sized, was in the middle of my brain. My neurologist and neurosurgeon agreed it was most likely a tumor.

It was/is located in an inoperaple location, but they werre able to biopsy it to get more information.

The biopsy results took a very long time to determine. They sent the biopsy to speciallists at UBC, who finally determined that it was not a tumor, but was a "demyilinating ms type of lesion".

I went quite a few months and many more tests before finally being dx'd with MS. I've never been told what type of MS but I am being treated
with a DMD.

I'd be interested to hear more about Tumefactive MS. Thanks for posting about this.

Mike

[supermum_ms]

Hi there, You are so right about 'Tumefactive MS' being rare, I couldn't recall anybody here dx with it, so I went searching the net for any other MS sites talking about this but there really isn't much out there.

What i could work out from what little was available [please don't quote me], the lesion(s) are larger than typical in MS and are more tumor like in appearance, it sounded like they had a sort of donut shape because of a dark centre giving the lesion that look. The few talking about their experience, all seemed to mention both an MS neuro and a brain tumor neuro/surgeon being involved in the dx, some got dx after biopsy of the lesion and others the lesion was MRI observed over time.

The sx's seemed to be a variable like other types of MS and I did read something about a 4.6yr average between relapses and a few people saying they were told its a slower course but sorry i couldn't pin down if that idea was research based or personal experiences. MS World mentions links to a couple of articles that might be worth getting your hands on, not sure how helpful they would be but they might be good to read.

Sorry I couldn't really be of help, I'll keep my fingers crossed that your question brings a few dx with Tumefactive MS to our boards and you'll get some better feedback!

Cheers.........JJ