SIZE dictates treatment options?

[CHD63]

Rob .....

Thanks for stating this.  I have long known that size and location of an AN need to be determining factors in treatment selection.  However, I had given little thought to the thickness/thinness of the tumor with regards to radiation.

Mine was apparently a relatively thin one but because of the speed of its growth, I was advised to go the surgical route.  If I ever have to deal with regrowth, I will store this great piece of information.

Thanks.  Clarice

[leapyrtwins]

smallsucker aka bigsucker -

glad to hear the surgery went beautifully  and loved the AN humor (very nice rhyme).

Sorry I can't give you advice about the hiccups, but I'd give Grega's suggestion a try.

jAN

[moe]

Smallsucker,
Hey I like the sig! So glad to hear the surgery went well. Did you post anywhere else on post op? Any problems, questions?
Sounds like you are doing awesome for nine + days post op!
Maureen

[jean]

I have a reoccuring an, about 2cm give or take the question is surgery or the cyberknife? My previous an was removed 14 years ago when surgery was the only way to go and as a result I have total loss of hearing and facial paralysis. the thing is they said then that the tumor was the size of a dime and then after removal said it was the size of a quarter. Now they say 2cm and cyberknife, but are they sure of the size. The first time I had all the same tests MRI, Ct scan with dye. So I have my doubts.  I have a 2nd neuo appt. tomorrow. Jean

[sgerrard]

I have a reoccuring an, about 2cm give or take the question is surgery or the cyberknife? My previous an was removed 14 years ago when surgery was the only way to go and as a result I have total loss of hearing and facial paralysis. the thing is they said then that the tumor was the size of a dime and then after removal said it was the size of a quarter. Now they say 2cm and cyberknife, but are they sure of the size. The first time I had all the same tests MRI, Ct scan with dye. So I have my doubts.  I have a 2nd neuo appt. tomorrow. Jean

Jean, the MRI's today are generally better quality than 14 years ago, so they should be more reliable. But we have had cases on the forum where the size at surgery was significantly larger than at diagnosis. How much time passed from MRI to surgery in your case?

When I had CK, they did another MRI the day before treatment. This is routine I think, since they use it to map the radiation treatment. If it was suddenly too large for CK, I am sure they would tell you and call off the treatment.

Good luck with your appointment.

Steve

[mk]

For my AN, depending on who does the measurement I have heard sizes ranging from 2.4 cm (according to the radiologist report), to a whopping 3.5 cm (from one of the doctors  I consulted with). In a separate thread Tumbleweed posted a very nice explanation about how the measurements  can vary, depending on if they are taken on an oblique angle, etc. Also, some doctors report the largest dimension (including the tiny portion in the IAC) and some only report the true diameter of the approximately spherical portion in the CPA. In my opinion this is the explanation for the big discrepancies reported on the MRI and after surgical removal: For example the radiologist may report only the diameter of the spherical portion, and upon removal the surgeon reports the largest dimension, which can easily be 0.5-1 cm longer.

After all this I am convinced that the most reliable way to be sure is to look at my own scans and compare my own measurements to the previous ones.

My understanding is that for radiation, the only dimension that matters is the diameter of the spherical portion, as this determines the total volume that must be radiated.

Marianna