Acoustic Neuroma - MRI Report After 1.5y of Surgery

[siva_s]

Hi All.

My wife(28y) was diagnosed with 1.3cm large Acoustic Neuroma and it's surgically removed in 2022 March. after surgery she is having deafness in right side and weakness of facial movement on right side. but those are manageable and now she is working as usual. only few symptoms are noticed after the surgery (during this 1.5 years).

She fainted 2 times( during this 1.5 years after the surgery). but noticed she had feels stomach pain, Nausea and vomiting during that.

Mild headache (very rare).

We did the 1st MRI After 3 months of surgery in (2022-06-14). MRI Report mentioned as below.

Right retro-mastoid craniotomy noted with post surgical changes underneath.

Following contrast enhancement is seen within the acoustic canal this may be due to dural enhancement or residual recurrent tumour.

(Referring above report, Our neurosurgeon said, this is normal, since they will leave small layer during the surgery and MRI report indicate like this)

Also We did 2nd follow-up MRI in (2023-07-30) (after 1 years of 1st MRI). MRI Report mentioned as below.

Evidence of right retro mastoid suboccipital craniotomy is noted.

There is widening of the right CP angle cistern due to post surgical changes. Avidly contrast enhancing small area is seen within the right IAM measuring 0.7 x 0.4 x 0.4cm (TS x AP x CC). It shows slight interval increase in size compared to previous study dated 2022-06-14.

? Recurrence? Post surgical dural enhancement. Suggest follow-up.

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I'm really afraid about what doctor will say about this report. Whether this is Recurrence tumour or not ?

I have an appointment in next Thursday with neurosurgeon.

Could you please share your experience about acoustic neuroma, anyone had this kind of MRI result after surgery ?

[GGourmet]

Hi there,

It sounds too small to warrant surgical removal but that is what appears to have happened and I guess there must have been a good clinical reason for that.

As you do, it does read a bit like the remaining tumour has continued to grow, as a small amount is often left behind, to avoid damage to nerves, etc.

I’m not sure if radiosurgery (gamma knife) is viable, after surgery. My knowledge suggests that surgical removal happens when gamma knife was not successful.

I can’t really add any more. Have you tried contacting the Brain Tumour charity?

Regards

[flappers]

Hello, it must be horrible to have this Worry for you and your wife. Are you in the UK? If so, contact the Brainstrust for support and advice. I wonder if you are in the USA as treatment tends to be different? If you are in the UK your wife should have a specialist nurse to contact too, which I would recommend. Sometimes a very small dose of radiotherapy is offered after surgery to stop the remnant growing but most of all you need to find some support for you both to help with the worry and panic you are feeling. Even with growth (and it might slow down and stop completely again, most do) your wife will be okay. Breathe 💐