Is it possible for acoustic neuroma to shrink, causing water in the brain to change?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
A few years back, it was found that I had an acoustic neuroma. It was 10.90 X 0.6 X 0.7 inches. I was offered surgery or Gamma Knife. I elected to have the Gamma Knife in the month of June. Things were fine until a year later. It was then found I had developed water in the brain and had a non-programmable VP (Ventriculoperitoneal) shunt placed in July of the next year. I regained all function as far as gait and memory and am doing fine. I was told that there was only a 1% chance that I would have even developed water in the brain from this neuroma. Last year before the pandemic, the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) showed the neuroma to be 0.94 X 0.6 X 0.66 inches. My question is this and I had thought that treated neuromas rarely cause water in the brain. My main question is: if the neuroma keeps shrinking because mine shows no activation now, is there a chance I would not be as dependent upon the shunt? I realize it will stay in my head, but could the situation with the neuroma improve so that if the shunt did break, I would not have the water in the brain if the tumor is not activated and continues to shrink. I cannot seem to get an answer from my own surgeon. They just tell me not to worry about it. I am a 68-year-old female. I get another MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) next month.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Acoustic neuroma causes the water in the brain by two mechanisms. One is direct pressure based on size, and another by increasing protein content in water. It is difficult to predict or state the exact percentage if somebody would be dependent on the shunt, but on average, if someone develops water, then the chances for it to be shunt dependent is one in 3 to 4 that is around 25 to 30% but in an individual one cannot predict the exact status.
I hope it clears your doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Is it possible if the neuroma continues to shrink and stays inactive that the status of it causing water in the brain to change? And, can that change be determined or seen on subsequent MRIs? I get another MRI to track the tumor in the coming month.
Thanks.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Yes, the status of neuroma needs to be checked every year by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). But as I mentioned, the dependency status of hydrocephalus (collection of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain) cannot be predicted as it is not related only to the size of a neuroma.
Thank you.
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