What does sticky mean?

[alwaysthere]

I've read several posts where poeple have mentioned that their tumors where sticky?
What does that mean?     

Patty 

[jazzfunkanne]

hi patty am not sure, but i remember my consultant said my AN was surrounded by fluid and it could become sticky to try and remove it, did anyone else have a AN coved in fluid??

[Cheryl R]

The sticky tumors stick to the nerve and are harder to get off.        Most slip off the nerve so are take less time to remove.     I have read once what makes them sticky but can't remember at the moment.     Someone else may know.     My first one was sticky so my surgery was 8 hrs.            My one a year ago was not and was closer to a 6 hr surgery.
                                             Cheryl R

[Debbi]

I believe that a tumor with a cystic center tends to be "sticky".  According to my surgical report, mine was "very sticky" (apparently a highly technical medical term  ).  It really means that it is a bit harder to get out, not much else.  I don't think it is really an issue in the hands of experienced surgeons.

Debbi

[leapyrtwins]

It really means that it is a bit harder to get out, not much else.  I don't think it is really an issue in the hands of experienced surgeons.

ANs are surgically removed layer by layer - kind of peeled off the facial and hearing nerves - and Debbi is correct, sticky ones are harder to remove.  Removal of sticky tumors can also take longer than removal of tumors that aren't sticky.

Sometimes a surgeon - even the most experienced one - will decide to leave a piece of a sticky AN behind rather than risk permanent damage to the facial nerve.  The remaining part can then be treated with radiation in order to "kill" it if the surgeon feels it's necessary.

Jan

[Kaybo]

They told my family 13 years ago that mine was "very sticky" - guess that has always been the high-faluting medical term!!

K

[LADavid]

My AN, Cartman, was described as sticky.  A year and a half later, I'm still dealing with the sticky situation.  Sticky isn't a good thing.  Patty, if you're pre-op and someone has suggested a sticky AN, you may want to suggest to your surgical team that if you're dealing with a sticky, you may want to get most of the AN and zap the rest with radiology later.

[sgerrard]

I have read once what makes them sticky but can't remember at the moment.

I think it was fat. I seem to remember reading here that a fatty tumor is stickier, though I don't know which post. Also that lipomas, a rarer tumor that is mostly fat, are extra sticky.

Steve

[Tamara]

Steve is right.  I had what turned out to be a lipoma (fat cell tumor) which was very sticky.  Usually the tumors peel off, but mine had to be cut off with a scissors.  There may be other reasons that a tumor is sticky, but I know for sure that this is one of them.  And yes, you would rather not have a sticky one.

I didn't know it was sticky before surgery.  I did, however, tell the surgeon that if he got in there and found, say, the tumor wound around the facial nerve and even thought there might be an issue there, that I'd prefer he just close it up, and I'd get radiation instead.

He did seem to get all the tumor, though, and I had some facial issues, but they have resolved significantly and continue to do so.

Best Wishes
Tamara

[cindyj]

Mine was very sticky as well, but he got it all - temp facial weakness, but 95% back to normal...or at least, how it was pre-op!

Cindy

[leapyrtwins]

Cartman 

That was the name of your AN, David?  Can you explain that please?

I didn't name my AN - didn't want to become that  attached  - but I love hearing what others name theirs.

Sorry for the hijack; my curiosity got the best of me 

Jan