Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 7/8/2009

Question
Dear Dr.

In Jan. and June of this year I had my first experiences with tonic-clonic seizures. The most recent seizure left me psychotic/amnesic for 24+ hours and I had to be restrained and given Haldol after 6 shots of Ativan would not keep me compliant. Imaging done at both hospital visits shows a 8.5mm mass in my rt. frontal lobe(does not appear to be cancerous). I have since regained 95% of my long-term memory.

My first question is: I have suffered from bouts of severe nausea/vomiting/cramping since 1992 and some M.D.s have Dx'd it as I.B.S. and Rx'd the typical medications. Two upper endoscopies and one colonoscopy show no GI problems. What is the likelihood that my tumor has been causing my nausea/vomiting problems all along? And do you have related suggestions other than traditional PRN antiemetics?

I also suffer from semi-frequent migraines and would like to know if my tumor may also be responsible for my severe headaches.

There has been no talk of resection by any physicians as of yet. Are there other treatments that may help or should I just be glad that it's only 8.5mm and not cancerous?

Thank you doctor in advance for your time and help,
-Adam

Phenobarbital/Klonapin/Zofran or Compazine/Imitrex/Cannabis

Answer
I'm a medical oncologist & radiation therapist with experience of TREATING brain tumors but I'm not a neurologist or a neurosurgeon. Most of your question should be answered by a neurologist. So I do suggest that you direct it to an expert in that field since it is outside my area of expertise! You SHOULD be glad that it is not cancerous and only 8.5 mm in size. However even non cancerous tumors do grow so it is probably best to get rid of it. Apart from neurosurgery - which can be used for this - your lesion can also be deleted by a radiological method using the so called GammaKnife. That treatment is nonsurgical. And your lesion is of ideal size for it. Good luck!