Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/14/2011

Question
QUESTION: My friend has a 4 yearold who has a noncancerous tumor on her thalamus. The tumor has grown into parts of the thalamus and the are saying it is a stage 2 tumor. Her oncologist is trying to find a surgeon to cut off some of the tumor. They know that the whole tumor can't be removed but they want to take out as much as they can to help her. The chemo has stopped the growth of the tumor and she was diagnosed in May of this year. I am writing to see if you know of any hospitals, surgeons, or any new methods that might help her. Thank you for your time and God Bless

ANSWER: I suppose you mean a GRADE 2 tumor since most brain tumors do not have stages. If so it is a malignant tumor though slowly growing. How big is the tumor? If small enough it may be possible to destroy it radiologically without any surgery with the so called GammaKnife even though surgery is impossible.


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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The tumor is the size of a softball. The doctors here have sent scans to other hospitals and so far no one is able to help. We have asked about the GammaKnife but the doctors told us it would be too risky. She is now having seziures and the doctors are working on a med combo to help. She has had about 16 seziures a day for the past couple of days. Is something like the GammaKnife possible with the tumor growing into her thalamus? Thank you for your time

Answer
Dear Megan, I'm a Swede living in Sweden so a softball does not tell me anything. Inches or cm please?! It may well be that the location makes even the GammaKnife too risky. Without seeing the scans myself I can not tell. So we have to trust her doctors on that point. In that case I have nothing else to offer. Also proton beams exist but they have about the same limitations as the GammaKnife.


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