AboutClaes-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. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. 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. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden. I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer),
General History,
Military History,
Breast Cancer,
Colon Cancer.
Question My question is this I recently found out I have two small (4mm) brain tumors located in the 4th ventrical near the base of the scull. I have had severe migrains for years. More recently I had afew episodes of confusion and dizziness and I did not know my name and I also did not know how old I was. This prompted two MRI's . One without contrast which was abnormal and one with which showed the same. When these scans were compared to previous scans this (mass) has been there since 2000. So for eight years it is been there and I didn't know. I was suffering from headaches missing work not able to care for my children and so on. I got to opinions from two different doctors. They both said the total opposite. The first one said to go to a headache specialist and an eye doctor and to come back to the him (neurosugeron) when that was done and that sugery was my choice but in his opinion it would make the headaches worse. The second doctor told us that we have tried everything and over the past eight years since nothing has worked I would probably not get any relief from any medication until had the sugery. He explained that I have tonsils in the back of my head and the tumors are pushing down causing pressure and they can also block the fluid flow in the brain. He siad he wants to put a titanium plate in my skull bridge it together and cover it with tissue. SO I am scheduled for sugery on July 25,2008. Am I making the right decision since I got two different opinions? I really liked the second doctor and not the first. The second doctor explained everything and made sure all questions were answered and there was guidance. The first doctor was not like that.
Answer Well I have not seen your pictures so it is hard to give you advice here. If there is NO sign that your tumors are blocking the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from your brain I doubt that these tumors have anything to do with your problems. That is furthermore supported by the fact that you have had them fo 8 years and it semms they have not changed during that time. So if they did not block the fluid then they hardly do it now. And if they did then you would hardly be around now. So I have to conclude that I in spite of your bias I tend to agree more with your first dr. I doubt that surgery would help you and that it is necessary. I think your first dr. on this point had a more proper attitude though maybe he should have explained it better. For your information I have such a tumor in my head as well - for years - (a subependymoma) in my right lateral ventricle and it has not changed and is not blocking in any way. No symptoms. If your tumors have not changed they can hardly be blamed for your new symptoms. I think your migraines are a separate problem with no connection to these tumors. Your new symptoms may in fact be due to SEVERE migraines! Go to an eye dr. If he can not see any signs of increased intracranial pressure we know that there is no blockage. Go also to a good NEUROLOGIST and discuss this! This is my opinion but I do not KNOW! The choice is yours! Good luck!
