Dr. Aida Abaz Quka
Neurology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
Answered by
Medically reviewed by
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
My father is 87 years old and has been diagnosed with a benign meningioma of his brain. He had an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done recently, showing that the tumor had grown. He is supposed to undergo radiation therapy soon. Do you know what would cause cancer to grow? What is the prognosis? Is radiation therapy safe and effective in stopping the tumor from growing? What is the percentage? Would he need a specific type of radiation (like proton therapy) so that it would not affect the surrounding brain tissues and cells? He takes medications for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and Metformin tablets for diabetes.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your question carefully and would explain that we cannot determine what made the tumor grow, but you should know that the growth speed depends on the tumor type. There are different types of benign meningioma, which grow at different rates. A biopsy would help determine the type of meningioma and the better treatment options. Regarding radiation therapy, I would like to know if he will do gamma knife or fractional radiotherapy. Gamma knife is radiation, similar to surgery. While fractional radiotherapy is usually used after surgery and helps treat tumor residual or recurrence. Considering your father's age, open surgery may be at a higher risk than gamma knife. I hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thanks for your reply. I do not know the type of radiation that he will receive. He will not have open surgery due to the high risk. Can you please tell me the side effects of radiation, that is, stereo radiation? (sorry, I am not spelling the name correctly).
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a relatively safe procedure compared to open surgery or other types of radiation. You should know that radiation therapy can help destroy the tumor cells, but it has some effects also on the other brain cells. For this reason, some complications may occur like: 1. Motor deficits. 2. Cranial nerve palsies. 3. Trigeminal neuralgia. 4. Optic neuropathy, with vision problems. 5. Epilepsy seizures. These complications are usually less than 5 % but depend on the clinic experience. Rarely a malignant transformation of the tumor may occur. Tumor recurrence may occur and follow up with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary every six months after surgery.
Was this conversation helpful?
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Neurology
Related Questions
What to do for diarrhea following radiation therapy and chemotherapy?
How to make sure that I do not have any cancer cell in my body?
What is causing this benign meningioma tumor to grow?
How can we treat meningioma tumor?
Is there any way to prevent eye damage during radiotherapy for nose cancer?
Could radiation therapy cause T-wave inversion?
Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy
