Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 10/4/2009

Question
I have recently been diagnosed with a lipoma in the suparchnoid space. I have tried to find information about this but could not find anything in which i would like to know. The symptoms which I am having are the following:
1. Headache for 19 days solid (feels like someone is sat on my brain)
2. Forgetting things, like putting my daughter to bed, whether I've eaten and full conversations with people
3. Sensitive to light
4. Being physically sick
5. Being able to sleep all day

I was wondering at what stage does the lipoma become a high risk as at the moment it is 10mm by 7mm I did ask my doctor at the hospital but he got an emergency call before he could answer, and then they discharged me. Also when the lipoma does become serious what are the ways of removing it/treating it.

Many Thanks!
Caroline

Answer
A lipoma is a benign tumor NOT a cancer - which is my specialty. It is rather uncertain if your symptoms have anything to do with this lesion. But that is best answered by a neurologist or a neurosurgeon which I'm not (I'm a medical oncologist & radiation therapist with experience of treating brain tumors - mainly malignant/cancerous). If treatment is considered necessary - which seems unlikely, I doubt that in that case you would have been forgotten like this - it is usually by neurosurgery. However there is also a radiological method - the "GammaKnife" - your lesion is small enough for it. With that method no surgery is necessary. However I suggest that you call your hospital dr. for an answer!