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Brain Tumors/Scar Tissue after brain tumor removed

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Expert: - 4/21/2008


Question
Is it normal to develop scar tissue in the brain after a brain tumor has been removed?  What amount of time after surgery (months or years) is it normal for scar tissue to develop?  We were told 4 months after surgery that the accentuated area we were seeing on the first post-op MRI was probably scar tissue and that if it was scar tissue, there should be no more change on the next MRI.  At the 7 month Post-op MRI, there was another additional small area of accentuation.  Once again, the neurologist says this is probably scar tissue, but not definitely.  Do you know how what the average amount of time for new scar tissue to develop is?  Thanks, any info we can get will help ease our minds.  The tumor was a grade II benign glioma.

Answer
This question is best directed to a neurosurgeon or a diagnostic radiologist - I'm neither, I'm a medical oncologist & radiation therapist with experience of treating (malignant) brain tumors (non surgically) - so the question is outside my area of expertise here.
Besides a grade II (2) glioma is not really benign though not highly malignant either. So it must be put in the group of malignant brain tumors.

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

Expertise

I`m a doctor of medicine and specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have a long time experience of these tumours.

Experience

I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy, educated and trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 . I have no restrictions on the number of questions there. I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer.

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Doctor of medicine, specialist in medical oncology & radiation therapy.

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