Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/17/2007

Question
I read a response to someones question about a Lipoma in the Brain.  You obviously know more than me about the Brain so what do you think about the Lipoma in the Brain?  Most doctors believe it is not relevant to the symptoms presented, I understand that it is a fatty tumor/malformation from birth most likely.  My son started having headaches as an infant, he also had absent seizures and developmental delays.  He has always been very large for his age and now is much larger than his brother (who is 1 year older), this could be genes, sure, but doesn't it seem odd that a child would have headaches starting so young and still to this day, he is now 7 years.  Here are his red flags now that I worry about and don't know if it could be related or just a coincidence.  1.  Migraines atleast 3 times a week.  2.  Big for his age.  3.  Under arm odor like a teenager would have.  Because I know of his Lipoma and the location, I wonder if I look too much into it, so I would like your opinion on whether these symptoms do seem like it could relate to a problem in the Hypothalamus because of the Lipoma.  Thanks so much.

Answer
Well, I'm a radiation therapist and medical oncologist. So I'm really a specialist of (malignant) tumor treatment - including those of the brain! I'm not a neurologist, a neurosurgeon or an endocrinologist - even less so a pediatric neurologist, neurosurgeon or endocrinologist - which I would need to be in order to answer your question well. You may very well have a point but this is beyond my capabilities so I strongly suggest that you discuss this with an expert of any of the fields mentioned above.