Shocking Good News!!

[PaulW]

Biopsy?
Is this practical with an AN?
Would be quite dangerous.

While the trials certainly hold some promise, it doesn't sound like a walk in the park.

As the tumour is so slow growing it is also quite resistant to drug therapy too.
Avastin works by slowing abnormal blood vessel growth.
Would seem to me you would need to be on Avastin for a very long time to have a permanant effect on the AN.
The side effects of being on Avastin for an extended period would hold a considerable risk.

[leapyrtwins]

A biopsy with an AN is not practical.

Unless of course it's one done in the course of AN surgery - which is routine procedure.

Although 99.9% of ANs are benign, they still biopsy them during surgery just to make sure.

[tgillesp]

So I saw the neurotologist today and he also says he doesn't see a tumor.  He says it looks like it is just fat!  He also recommends another MRI in 6 mos.  However, now he says I have Vestibular Ganglionitis (which is viral).  Now I guess I do some reading and find out what that is!  I just want help for this tinnitus!

[leapyrtwins]

Tracey -

I have no idea what vestibular ganglionitis is, but I'm glad you finally got an answer.

Wish I had some ideas on the tinnitus, but thankfully I'm one of the few who don't suffer from it.

Best,

Jan

[Jim Scott]

Tracey ~

Thanks for the update.  I'm sorry you've been diagnosed with Vestibular Ganglionitis (an inner ear inflammation).  Conversely, I'm pleased to learn that you don't have an acoustic neuroma, which would be more problematic to treat.   I hope you can find some relief for your tinnitus.

Jim

[dalern]

Tracey, viral infections account for a fair percentage of Sudden Hearing Loss.  I was diagnosed by Dr. Luxford an HEI and I liked him a lot.  I know you aren'e in LA, but he was a good one to talk to. 

A biopsy is totally inappropriate and is not the current standard of care.  I am not speaking as a patient now, but as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.  A biopsy could lead to more problems including, but not limited to infection.
~Dale

[tgillesp]

I finally did get an opinion from Dr. Haynes at Vanderbuilt today.  He says he does see something suspicious on my MRI in the location where an AN would be.  But due to the small size he cannot confirm whether it is or is not an AN at this time.  So he wants to see another MRI after 6 mos which I've scheduled for Dec.   Hopefully I will know something more definite by then.

[dalern]

I do hope it is nothing.  I know how frustrating this must be for you, but hopefully a new MRI will definitively answer a lot of questions.

I did have my MRI, and this was the second "clean/negative" MRI.  YEAH!!!!!  I hope the same is true for you.
~Dale