AboutJuliet Seigle, MD Expertise I am a fully trained radiation oncologist and can answer many questions about cancer and its treatment. I can't answer questions about specific chemotherapy agents. I have also worked in general medicine and emergency medicine, so I can give advice about these areas as well. I would like to do this based on my very positive experience with one of your experts (real estate).
Experience I currently am working as a radiation oncologist in the DC metropolitan area. I have done research and given talks on neurooncology (tumors of the nervous system) at national meetings. I have been trained in use of a new technology, the CyberKnife. I was emergency physician at a busy communicty hospital (Calvert Memorial Hospital) in Maryland for 3 years (1989-1991).
Organizations ASTRO (American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology)
Education/Credentials Georgetown University Hospital: fellowship radiation oncology 2005-2007
Georgetown University Hospital: residency radiation oncology 1991-1994
Georgetown University Hospital: residency neurosurgery 1984-88
Awards and Honors Award for best abstract - CyberKnife Users meeting 2005 (topic: chordoma)
ASTRO research award $30,000, 1993
Question My husband has a meningioma in the cavernous sinus. It is pushing on the optic nerve. He does not have lateral peripheral vision because the eye will not move in that direction and he has to turn his head to see. We have had ct and several mri scans. The suggestion has been gamma or cyber knife. Our current neurosurgeon has only seen 2 in the cavernous sinus(a dangerous area) and offered to refer to another physician of our choice. Do you have any suggestions of a physician??
Answer Melissa:
I suggest going to a center which has a CyberKnife. The two institutions with the most CyberKnife experience are Stanford University (Dr. John Adler, neurosurgeon) and Georgetown (Dr. Gregory Gagnon, radiation oncologist). CyberKnife treatment is usually given in a series of two to five treatments done on consecutive, or near-consecutive, days. A mask is used to immobilize the head, and this is reasonably comfortable. Each treatment takes an hour and a half or so. There is no rigid head frame necessary. In contrast, with the Gamma Knife, a halo frame usually has to be affixed to the skull (with screws into the skull). The need for this frame limits the treatment approach in certain ways. I do think it is worth traveling to an institution where a lot of these kinds of tumors have been treated with stereotactic radiosurgery. Good luck!
