Dr. Philip Stieg, Weill Cornell

[Richard S.]

I'm about to begin treatment with Dr. Stieg at the Weill Cornell Center for Skull Based Surgery in NYC.  My Neurologist recommended him.  Anyone have experience with him?  Would appreciate any advice.  Had significant hearing loss 10 years ago, tumor has grown from 1mm then to 3mm now.  I think I'm a watch and wait at this point.

[ANSydney]

When you say treatment, do you mean watch and wait or intervention (microsurgery or radiosurgery)? If you've had symptoms for 10 years and the tumor has grown from 1 mm to 3 mm (over what time?), it unlikely to continue growing ( http://acusticusneurinom.dk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/natural-history-of-vs.pdf ).

Also, 2 mm is within the error of measurement. When you look at the MRI pictures, can you see the tripling in dimension (9x area)?

Do you have anything but hearing loss, because intervention only worsens hearing loss. To quote https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2cef/abe8e8eef1ae32cab8bcf3c71dd75f53387c.pdf

"In the literature, to our knowledge, there have been no reports of the hearing preservation after 10 years or more after hearing preservation surgery or radiotherapy. In the present study, 95 patients had been observed for 10 years or more."

[JLR]

Yes, I had surgery November 1 2016. Dr. Stieg did the surgery with Dr Selesnick. In fact I'm going downtown to see him for my follow up MRI and to see the dr.  It was a tumor that had been radiated 5 years prior. I had CK at Winthrop. I have facial paralysis, dry eye and I finally got my balance back after many weeks of physical therapy. I am now deaf in affected side.  It was a radiated tumor which was tangled on facial nerve, brain stem and leaning on trigeminal nerve. I am getting better. Drs were great because I woke up!!  Great hospital.if you want another 2nd opinion go to Columbia Dr Sisti..I didn't but I heard he is amazing. Good luck. Oh Cornell Weill is a tightly run operation. You will be cared for every step of the way. Regards, Joan

[Richard S.]

Thank you so much for these helpful responses.  By "treatment" I mean a consultation.  Essentially my neurologist said I should see an AN specialist.  Although I have 85% percent hearing loss on the right side, my VS is very small, described as a "minute focus enhancement deep in the right IAC fundus" 10 years ago, and as a "3mm focus enhancement at the anterior and inferior aspect of the distal right IAC along the course of the cochlear nerve" a few months ago.  If there is a 2mm margin of error in reading these MRI's then maybe mine hasn't grown at all (one less problem, I'll take it).  No other symptoms.  The article you provided is very helpful and relevant to my case.

[JLR]

Just a note of caution. Avoid CK as although it stops the growth it's temporary. After 5 years mine started to grow. Good luck.  Joan