So how "rare" are ANs, really?

[Charlotte Lady]

I was the first one my EENT had seen last year and I was diagnosed in July.  Interestingly enough the scheduler for the practice mentioned that AN's in that practice occur in groups.  She'd scheduled surgeries for 3 AN patients in the weeks before me but none since Feb.  I just was happy my surgeons had had a chacne to practice on three other people before me (ain't that evil of me).

The first EENT referred me to one of his partners who specializes in ANs. 

Donna from Charlotte

[msmaggie]

Hi Everyone,
I was told by my ENT that he sees maybe 3 people a year who are diagnosed with an AN.  When I went to the dr. here in Houston for my first visit with him, I told him that the HEI had read my MRI and they said I had a petrous meningioma.  He told me that was not his take on things, and besides, those are rare anyway.  I'm already rare---why can't I be even more rare!!

Mags

[mindyandy]

With more and more newbies...and lots of guests....I'm starting to think that it is becoming more and more common....Everybody should have an MRI scan of the head....I'm sure there would be more newbies if that were to happen.

[Dog Lover]

When I went to my PCP and we talked about my AN surgery, she had never known anyone to have an AN before.  My ENT who I have to give lots of credit to for ordering the MRI right away, had not seen one in 10 yrs. He also didn't know squat about them, told me that he didn't and suggested that I do some research on the internet until I could went to my appointment with the surgeon.  That's how I found this group. 

CAthy

[joebloggs]

I've been told AN's occur 1 in 100,000 per head of population.  And statistically each GP or PCP (I think that's what you say in the US?) will only see one in their lifetime.

I guess that's pretty rare?!

[Jim Scott]

I've been told AN's occur 1 in 100,000 per head of population.  And statistically each GP or PCP (I think that's what you say in the US?) will only see one in their lifetime.

I guess that's pretty rare?!

Hi, Joe:

It sure is, although there is a strong suspicion that many more exist but go undetected primarily due to a lack of symptoms and mis-diagnosis.   

It's PCP for Primary Care Physician, usually an internist.  The GP label is basically defunct now here in the U.S. 

Jim