Brain Lesion

[Dano66]

Hi All,
6 days ago I ended up in the emergency room - for the 4 days prior to that I was having symptoms such as light headedness, flashing ribbons of light in my eyes, headaches, a loss of balance.  Over the several months leading up to this my eye sight as drastically changed (had perfect vision, now seem to be far sighted).  Also, discovered my BP is elevated (when relaxed about 135 over 85 but at emergency last week it hit as high as 164 0ver 98).

In Emergency had an EKG and blood work - all came back perfect.  A nurse did some basic tests and I had a CT scan - came back with a small lesion in the right frontal lobe and stated its most likely calcification but could be a tumour.  Now booked for an MRI in 5 days.  

After leaving emergency I was perfectly fine until yesterday - woke up with a bad headache, light headed, blurry vision, aching back (high up between the shoulder blades).  Now, headache still here (more than 24 hours later - vision not as blurry but still there - general feeling of lethargy, fuzziness).  Should I go back to emergency or just wait for the MRI?  Any general ideas of what this may be?

BTW, I am a 43 year old caucasion male in good health - cancer does run in my family - younger sister had breast cancer, father had prostrate cancer, grandfather had stomach cancer...

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history and review your imaging, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

While I can not view your imaging, based on the information you provide above, if the lesion on your CT scan is just a small area that is likely a calcification, and there is not pressure on surrounding structures or swelling to suggest a tumor, the lesion on the CT scan is unlikely to be related to your symptoms (if any of the latter are present or there is concern for tumor or another lesion besides calcification, then the lesion may be related to your symptoms).

If your MRI does not show a lesion that would explain your symptoms, another possibility is a migraine disorder. This can lead to headaches and vision changes. Other causes of headache associated with muscle stiffness include infection (a systemic infection such as a viral illness or even a central nervous system infection like meningitis).

Continued evaluation by a physician is recommended.

Thank you for using the forum I hope you find this information useful good luck.

[impish]

I also have a cavernoma, no surgery for me as of yet.  Feel free to go to  AngiomaAlliance.com for really good info.  

[Dano66]

Hi Lama,  

Thanks for the comments.  I have had the MRI and it came back as a Cavernoma.  Also, quite a few white matter lesions were discovered.  The doctors believe the Cavernoma has been there for sometime but cannot rule out that there may have been some bleeding at some point. I have been referred to a Neurologist but have yet to see him.  

I am still experiencing symptoms such as a dull headache (it is constant and does not go away); blurry peripheral vision comes and goes; a general light headedness that is close to constant; occassionally all the above become more severe but only for very short periods of time (15 or 20 minutes).  

Of course I have "self-diagnosed" using the Web and from what I can researched on Cavernomas they can basically be present for years and years and never cause any problems but once they do begin to present neuroloical symptoms or bleed it is recommended that they be surgically removed if in an area that is operable.  In my case it is operable - what are your thoughts?  Should I just "wait and see" or seek surgery?  I know I need to wait and see the neurologist and will follow his recommendations but any second opinions are geratly appreciated (and knowing you do not have access to the MRI, etc I know you can only base your views based on what I have written).