Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 9/25/2007

Question
I was in a motorcycle accident last Thursday, and at the E.R. the doctor's did a CT scan (or my head neck) , and it came back abnormal. They found a "cystic mass or cystic fluid collection extending from the posterior cranial fossa towards the posterior aspect of C1. Measuring approximately 2.8 cm in the AP dimension and 2.8 cm in width."

I have to have an MRI done in two days, but am wondering what this means. And what MIGHT be done about it.

Did the motorcycle accident cause this?

I have Chiari malformation, and had the decompression surgery done 5 years ago.

Please help. I'm worried.


Answer
It is too early to be sure what this is, that is why the MRI scan will be done in a couple of days. However it may very well be connected to your Chiari malformation (but not certain). It is probable (but not yet certain, we have to wait for your MRI) that this is something you were born with. It is very improbable that it has anything to do with your accident - except that it meant that this lesion was found. It is not certain at all that anything has to be done about it in any way! Actually this is probably not really a "tumor" in a strict sense but an inborn malformation (but your MRI will give the final verdict on that) so this is in that case outside my area of expertise here. You should therefore direct any further questions to an expert of neurosurgery, which I am not. I'm a cancer dr.