Questions for Dr. ???

[arcticrose]

Hi!  I have a phone conference with my Dr. on the 28th for my 1 year post CK  MRI results.  I was hoping for help from all of you for questions I might want to ask the Dr.  I like to write my questions down so I remember them!!  LOL  I took the ANA survey recently and wrote down 4 things I wanted to be sure to ask and now of course I can't find them.  I know to ask if there is shrinkage or no growth, nacrosus?, his opinion, but is there something I should be asking??  Thanks in advance!!  Nancy

[CHD63]

Hi Nancy .....

Although this list of questions is primarily for pre-treatment, it might help you remember the ones you wanted to ask ..... look at the Questions for Treating Physician on the main ANA home page:  http://anausa.org/index.php/overview/questions-for-treating-physician

Clarice

[arizonajack]

Hi!  I have a phone conference with my Dr. on the 28th for my 1 year post CK  MRI results.  I was hoping for help from all of you for questions I might want to ask the Dr.  I like to write my questions down so I remember them!!  LOL  I took the ANA survey recently and wrote down 4 things I wanted to be sure to ask and now of course I can't find them.  I know to ask if there is shrinkage or no growth, nacrosus?, his opinion, but is there something I should be asking??  Thanks in advance!!  Nancy

There's really not much to ask. And, frankly, I think you should be looking at your MRI images yourself and comparing them to the MRI images of a year ago.

There probably won't be any shrinkage yet and more than likely the AN might look a little bigger. But the important part of the picture is the dark spot that is forming in the tumor that indicates necrosis where the tissue is dying and no longer absorbs contrast.

Take a look at this series of images I found on the internet. It's a 36 month progression post radiation:

http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0360301612004336-gr3.jpg

[PaulW]

What is the main purpose of the 12 month MRI?
For an Acoustic Neuroma of my size, what do you typically see at the 12 month MRI?
What do you see in my MRI?
Does seeing necrosis in the 12 month MRI predict the success of the treatment?


This is my understanding of how things work, but some questions around this maybe worthwhile
Your AN is small, and CK gives a more homogenous dose than GK.
Necrosis or black spots are less likely to occur at 12 months with small tumours, and less likely again with CK due to the better dose distribution. Fast necrosis of the whole tumour is actually undesirable, as rotting meat inside your skull can cause complications. The 12 month MRI is done to ensure there are no complications like hydrocephalus, dramatic tumour
 growth and to set a benchmark for the 24m and 36m MRI.

Do not feel discouraged if the tumour is larger and there is no sign of necrosis.
This is fairly typical I believe for a small tumour and your doctor can confirm this with you.

[arcticrose]

Thanks so much for the imput!!  Now to talk to the Dr.   Again, thank you.