My MRI results - what does this mean?

[ForumParticipant]

Hi everyone! I'm so happy to have come across this forum. I have not officially been diagnosed with anything because I live in a country with no specialist. I do, however, have an appointment with a team of specialists very soon, so I will know more then. My MRI says the following, so if anyone can interpret, that would be fantastic. I won't take any opinions as medical advice - I'm just trying to consume information before my visit.

Many thanks to all of you. Be well.

The report reads, "An 8x7mm sized nodular soft tissue lesion is seen in the right internal auditory canal, inseparable from intra canalicular segment of right VIII th nerve. The lesion appears iso intense on FLAIR and T2w images, and shows moderate post gadolinium enhancement. It does not entend into the right CP angle cistern; and does not cause any expansion or erosion of the right IAC. The cistern segments of VII-VIII th nerve complex are normal bilaterally."

[ANSydney]

ForumParticipant, welcome to the forum.

An 8x7mm sized nodular soft tissue lesion is seen in the right internal auditory canal, [A small growth in the right internal auditory canal]
inseparable from intra canalicular segment of right VIII th nerve. [Cranial nerve VIII is the vestibulocochlear nerve which takes sound and balance information from the ear to the brain]
The lesion appears iso intense on FLAIR and T2w images, [means it can be seen using a particular MRI method]
and shows moderate post gadolinium enhancement. [means it can be seen even better after gadolinium contrast agent is injected (the stuff they injected into you part way through the MRI)]
It does not entend into the right CP angle cistern; [contained within the internal auditory canal and does not extend into the cerebellopontine angle (basically a space between the internal auditory canal and brainstem)]
and does not cause any expansion or erosion of the right IAC. [the growth has not pushed or eroded the bony outside of the internal auditory canal]
The cistern segments of VII-VIII th nerve complex are normal bilaterally. [Once cranial nerve VII (facial nerve) and VII (vestibulocochlear nerve) leave the internal auditory canal they look normal for both ears]

If you want to know more about which cranial nerve passes on what information, take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_cranial_nerves

Basically, it looks like you have a small tumor confined to the right internal auditory canal. Being small, all options are probably open to you; microsurgery, radiosurgery or observation.

Is there mention anywhere in the report that the growth is consistent with a vestibular schwannoma or acoustic neuroma (same thing). If you do indeed have a vestibular schwannoma, they are typically slow growing.

If you are young (<30 years old) you may have to look into a genetic defect. If you are old (>65 years old) you may be put on observation. These things are typically found in the age group 40 to 60.

I'm not qualified, so please check everything with neurosurgeons.

Where are you from? What are your symptoms?

[ForumParticipant]

Thanks so much for the thorough reply! I will see neurosurgeons tomorrow and get their opinions.

Yes - the conclusion states "consistent with a schwannoma".

I'm 38 (male) and in northwest suburbs of Chicago. My symptoms are tinnitus, dizziness / clumsiness, brainfog, being visually overwhelmed, and eye strain. I'm not convinced that the eye strain isn't related to my contacts and glasses prescriptions, so I likely need to revisit my ophthalmologist as well.

At this point, I'm thinking GN, but, from the little I know, the results don't actually seem all that impressive.

I was evacuated from my job in Rwanda because there are no specialists there. I sure hope I can manage to get treatment AND keep my job.

Many thanks!

[ANSydney]

Do you have nay hearing loss? This is usually the first thing to be noticed. (You can try http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/hearing.html to at least see the difference between your non-tumor ear and the tumor ear.) A formal hearing test is a good idea.

The vision aspects are interesting. An acoustic neuroma can affect your vision if you move your head. The problem isn't the optics, but rather that the vestibular system (motion detection) isn't working properly so the eyes don't have the ability to track well with head movement. If you're looking at something and head is still and vision is poor, I can't see that being related to an acoustic neuroma. Again, the experts know these things.