Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 6/24/2011

Question
Hi my 14 yr. old niece was having headaches for a couple of weeks - Dr. treating her for sinus infection - day 10 she had a seizure, transported to hospital mris cats etc.. showed tumor in frontal lobe of the brain - three hour surgery removed all off tumor the neurosurgeon at jack palmer Orlando specialist stated - 5 days later told it was to be malignant  and would need radiation but sending it to shands Gainesville, fl- for another opinion- niece home within a week besides swelling no real side affect eating, walking etc.. now shands says they think very rare type and nonmalignant -grade 2 benign- sent off to researcher who studies these types of tumors - no radiation or chemo at this time- niece appears to be fine - still waiting on 100% full diagnose of tumor-may grow back and will need mri every 3 months -Is this for real ?misdiagnosis? sorry to seem questioning - my mom was misdiagnosed for almost 10 yrs with non Hodgkin lymphoma b- any thoughts on this research process?

Answer
A grade 2 astroblastoma is NOT benign it is a malignant tumor though slowly growing. In fact she MAY live for many years before it comes back - though I can not guarantee that - and they probably want to reserve radiation therapy for that event. That is anyway my interpretation of what you have described.




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