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Brain Tumors/Brain tumor in 6 years old girl

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Expert: - 3/10/2010


Question

MRI report
Dear doctor,

 Three years ago (2006)  , My daughter had  been diagnosed  with brain tumor called (DNET) in the right temporal lobe size (33x22x19 mm) . The MRI scan was done after having a car accident as a normal check up. Doctors recommended not to expose her to an operation to remove the tumor since she was only two years old  and did  not complain from any health problems.
  Recently ,my  6 years old daughter started to complain from headache episodes  nearly every day. I started to notice that her eyes directions are not parallel as usual and within two days she has crossed eyes. The doctor discovered that she has a compressed optic nerve due to increased pressure in the skull  ( hydrocephalus)   and  ordered an urgent operation called(shunt )to drain the accumulated fluid . A  tube was inserted in her skull to drain fluids in to her abdomen .  Her eyes returned back to its normal direction and every thing is ok now.
   However,  doctors recommended that the tumor should be removed within one year maximum otherwise  she will suffer from serious complications.  An MRI scan was done after the shunt surgery shows an increased size of the tumor ( 39 X 53 mm) .Kindly, I want your recommendations based on the attached MRI scans and the best surgery methods to follow with minimum complications. Can she  be treated by Gamma Knife ray  ? Or by a  normal surgery? And what are the most  common post-operative complications ?do you have any suggestions ? And what is your evaluation in general?

Please Note:
In this letter  I will attach  the following:
-   MRI scan that was done 3 years ago (2006) with the report .
-   MRI scan done in 2008 with report.
-   MRI scan done in 2010 after shunt surgery with report.
If you could not receive the attached files please send me another e-mail so I can send them back to you.

Your fast response will be appreciated.

Best regards;
AMAL
KUWAIT

Answer
Dear Amal! I can tell you directly that her tumor is too big for GammaKnife treatment which can not treat lesions bigger than 4 cm in size. However, I'm a medical oncologist & radiation therapist with experience of treating brain tumors, but I'm not a neurosurgeon. This is definitely a case for a neurosurgeon - even a pediatric neurosurgeon - so I must suggest that you direct your question to such an expert. Good luck!



You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128     There is no restriction to the number of questions there.

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.

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

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