Atypical Meningioma

[awheeker]

My husband was diagnosed in early January with an atypical meningioma that was the size of a tennis ball and had shifted his brain considerably.  After it was removed he develped an infection and surgery was performed again to remove the bone plate.  Finally in June of this year a titanium plate was put in place of the bone.  We have just noticed that his head is caving in like it was before the plate was there.  What could cause this to happen and is their a possiblility he will have to go through another surgery?

[ron714]

A related discussion, spine problems was started.

[RONNIE R]

HELLO ANYONE , CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME , I AM A VERY NERVOUS PERSON AND HAVE BEEN STAYING AWAY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENSDS , I DON'T NO WHAT TO TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY SO RUDLEY SAY WHY DON'T YOU JUST GET OUT FOR A WHILE , YOU LOOK AS THOUGH YOU LOST YOUR BEST FRIEND.
DE[RESSION , IF SOMEONE HERE COULD JUST TELL ME I HAVE NOTHING THAT CAN'T BE TREATED OR THAT CAN BE ANYTHING .
THANKS
SOMEBODY -ANYBODY ITS 10-2007

[RONNIE R]

HELLO AGAIN THIS IS RON , I FORGOT TO MENTION , I WALK WITH A CANE AND , AM ON HIGH DOSES OF MORPHINE AND LYCRICA , I AM STILL IN ALOT OF PAIN LOTS OF CERVICAL PROBLEMS ALSO , I CAN'T TYPE THAT LONG TO GIVE YOU THAT ONE , BY WHAT I TYPED CAN YOU GIVE ME A ANSWER WHY I AM STILL IN SO MUCH PAIN AND IT FEELS LIKE A SWREW IS PUSHING OUT OF MY BACK , I ALSO HAVE A HARD TIME WALKING 3 BLOCKS , I AM TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO EXERCISE , WHEN MY SURGERY WAS OVER I WANTED TO GO INTO A REHAB , BUT THEY WOULD NOT LET ME THEY TOLD ME TO GO HOME AND BE A COUCH POTATO , IN THE MEAN TIME I HAD GAINED 4O LBS IN 3 MONTHS , NOW I LOST 20 OF IT , JUST BY PUSHING MYSELF , DO U THINK THAT THIS IS ARACHNOIDITIS ? MY PAIN MANAGEMENT DOCTOR THINKS IT MAY BE , BUT I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND CAME UP WITH IT OR AS , BUT HE SAID IT WOULN'T BE AS BECAUSE MY PROBLEMS ARE NERVES NOT BONES. PLEASE LET ME NO ALSO U CAN E-MAIL ME AT ***@****
THANKS SO MUCH

[RONNIE R]

MY NAME IS RON , I WOULD LIKE TO READ OFF MY LAST MRI , WELL I HAD A LAMINECTOMY AND FUSION WITH PADICLE SWREWS , THIS WAS FOR DDD , AT L5-S1 18 MONTHS AGO , MY LEGS WHERE GIVEN OUT ON ME AND MY SCIATICA WAS SEVERE ALSO A DISC PROTRUSION ENCROACHING IN NEURAL FORAMINAL ,
MRI
THERE IS MILD SPONDYLOSIS AND DEGENERATIVE ENDPLATES SIGNAL CHANGE AT THE L1-2 AND L4-5 LEVELS .THERE IS EVIDENCE OF PRIOR LAMINECTOMY AND FUSION AT THE L5-S1 LEVEL WHERE PEDICLE SWREWS AND SPINAL RODS ARE NOTED. AN INTERVEREBRAL DISC SPACER IS ALSO NOTED . THERE IS ALTERED SIGNAL AND POST SURGICAL CHANGES WITHIN THE DORSAL SOFT TISSUE AT THIS LEVEL WITHOUT CHANGE .
THERE IS MILD DIFFUSE DISC  DESICCATION THROUGHOUT THE LUBAR REGION. THERE IS SCHMORL'S NODES IDENTIFIED AT T11 -12 THROUGH L2-3 LEVELS . THE CONUS MEDULLARIS TERMINATESAT THE L1-2 LEVEL AND DEMOSTRATES A NORMAL MORPHLOGIC APPERANCE.
AT THE L4-5 LEVEL , THERE IS SPONDYLOTIC DISC BULGING WITH A SMALL SUPERIMPOSED CENTRAL DISC PROTRUSION SLIGHTLY EFFACES THE VENTRAL THECAL SAC. THERE IS BILATERALL FACET JOINT ARTHROSIS . THERE IS ALSO BILATERALL NEURAL FORAMINAL NARROWING , WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
AT THEE L5-S1 LEVEL THERE IS STABLE ALTERED SIGNAL ABOUT THE THECAL SAC , PARTICULARLY ANTERIORLY , BUT ALSO NOTED POSTERIORLY AS WELL.THIS IS UNCHANGED AND LIKELY THE RESULT OF GRANULATION TISSUE FROM PRIOR SURGERY.THERE IS SLIGHT ASYMMETRY OF THE L5 NERVE ROOTS AS THE RIGHT IS LARGER THAN LEFT WITHOUT CHANGE .
IMPRESSION
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM PRIOR EXAM WITH MILD DEGENERATIVE CHANGE IN ADDITION TO POSTSURGICAL CHANGES AT THE LUMBARSACRAL JUNCTION DESCRIBED ABOVE.

[Joanna Fong, MD]

Hi awheeker,

I am sorry that happened to your husband.  Unfortunately, even though surgerons try their best to sterilize the operating room and equipments, there are still risks for postoperative infection.  When there is infection after a brain surgery, patient can presents with fever, confusion, even seizures.  Antibiotics are typically given through intravenous route.  Cerebral spinal fluid are tested to identify the organism (bacteria/virus/fungus) causing the infection.  If the bone plate is infected, it needs to be taken out to prevent further persistent infection.  As far as the titanium plate, it should provide a additional barrier to the brain to mimic the skull.  However, it may not provide a perfect curvature as the original skull, therefore caving in (since there is no brain tissues underneath to support the plate).  If you notice any signs of infection (as listed above), please seek medical attention immediately.

Good luck.

THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL MEDICAL EDUCATION PURPOSE ONLY.  PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT OPTIONS OF YOUR SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.