Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 2/12/2009

Question
My mother was admitted to the hospital yesterday after suffering a seizure. she was not responsive and kept having seizures until she got to the hospital at which point she was sedated and stabilized. a CAT Scan and a MRI have revealed a brain mass in the front left lobe.  That said here are my questions:

1. Is a brain mass a tumor?
2. what are some intelligent questions that i should ask the neurologist and the attending.

Also, she is a recovering alcoholic and has been clean for 15 years.  Back in October 2008 she was sick and pretty much passed out.  after missing a day at work her friend went to check on her. she had no recollection of the prior day and her tongue was bleeding.  Now we know that was a seizure that went untreated.

What does this seem like it may be to you based on experience?

thank you in advanced for your response

Answer
1. Yes it is. 2. The important thing here is what KIND of tumor it is. If a benign (non cancerous) tumor, like a meningioma, she may be cured. If on the other hand it is a malignant (cancerous) one either primary - starting in her brain - or secondary - arising somewhere else and then spreading to her brain - her prognosis is much worse. At the moment it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to tell you which of these alternatives it may be, but her CT & MRI scans MUST give her dr. some idea of what it is. Probably however a biopsy - if possible - will be needed in order to be sure. Malignant brain tumors usually have a bad prognosis.