ANA Discussion Forum

General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Jackie on February 25, 2008, 08:04:03 pm

Title: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Jackie on February 25, 2008, 08:04:03 pm
Posing this question to ALL of you who have had any type of procedure done for an Acoustic Neuroma: Prior to Surgery, Microsurgery, Or Radiosurgery, was a NEW MRI done to help the surgeon locate, and/or prepare for the most current assessment of your tumor, Or did they rely on the previous MRI??? I guess you could call this "the new survey". Your answers are greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks, Jackie
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: leapyrtwins on February 25, 2008, 08:10:44 pm
Jackie -

in my case no new MRI was done prior to my surgery; the surgeons worked with the original MRI.  It's probably because I had my MRI towards the end of April and my surgery on May 31st.  The docs probably figured my AN was pretty much the same, but ironically it wasn't.  It almost doubled in size from the time of the MRI until the time of surgery.  No one knows why; guess I'm just weird  ;D

Jan
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Patch on February 25, 2008, 09:24:02 pm
Hi Jackie,


          I had a new MRI and a CT scan for which they compared the two to pinpoint exactly when the AN was so when they put all of the info in the computer for my radiation treatments, it would all line up.


Mark
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: OTO on February 25, 2008, 09:30:44 pm
Jackie

My MRI was done in mid-Jan 07, and my middle fossa surgery done in late-May 07.  They did NOT do a new MRI prior to surgery.  OTO
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Kate B on February 25, 2008, 09:36:45 pm
Jackie,
I was diagnosed in  early May and my surgery was at the end of November.
HEI used my  original Chicago MRI; however they did their own hearing test, blood work and preop tests.

My one unusual aspect in the story is that I first had my MRI done in an open MRI machine and it was not very clear.  It was redone a couple of weeks later in a closed machine.  I still remember that basket closing over my head as if it were yesterday.  Claustrophobic???? ergh....I didn't think so. I remember just keeping my eyes closed.

Kate

Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: OMG16 on February 25, 2008, 10:17:56 pm
Jackie I noticed you are from the great Pacific Northwest.  Just about a month ago there was a blurb on the news regarding new 3D reconstructions they can do for brain tumors.  I believe there is also a new computer software program that helps map everything out and also guides the surgeon during surgery.  Maybe this is why they require an updated MRI.  I hope this is helpful.  16
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Syl on February 25, 2008, 10:27:51 pm
Hi Jackie,

My surgery is scheduled for May 19, and a new MRI will be done two weeks before.


Syl
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Micky on February 25, 2008, 10:33:44 pm
Gady Jackie,

I had my MRI in November last year and my operation at the end of January this year, They did not do a new MRI prior to surgery.

Mick
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Boppie on February 25, 2008, 10:52:42 pm
Hearing was diminsihed to 35%.  I had one diagnostic MRI with contrast at the end of September.  My tumor was 2cm x 1.5mm  at that time.  I had Translab on December 15, same year.  No new MRI.  Tumor was well visualized and "just kissing the brain stem".  Speedy recovery.
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: OMG16 on February 25, 2008, 10:55:22 pm
I almost forgot my son did not need a new MRI however he had just had another one scheduled before we decided on surgery.  So it was only about 5 weeks old.  16
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: sgerrard on February 26, 2008, 03:02:07 am
I think all radiation patients will have a CT scan done just before treatment, and sometimes an MRI as well. The treatment planning software pretty much requires it. I had both the day before treatment.

Hmm, Jackie, I wonder what might have prompted you to ask this question?  ;)

Steve
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Jim Scott on February 26, 2008, 10:23:35 am
Jackie:

My initial MRI scan - when the AN was discovered - was performed about a month prior to my surgery.  I had an MRI scan (with contrast) taken 48 hours prior to my retrosigmoid approach microsurgery (6/7/06).  The neurosurgeon insisted on it.  I appreciated his determination to use every resource at his disposal to ensure the chances for a good outcome (no complications).  It paid off.  I would think most surgeons would want a 'fresh' MRI to help them know what they're likely to encounter once they have opened up your skull as these tumors can grow quickly and, if they're depending on a months-old MRI, things could look a lot different by the time they perform the surgery.  Apparently, not all surgeons take this position.  I'm glad mine did and ordered an MRI just prior to my surgery.   

Jim

Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: petittrv on February 26, 2008, 12:24:34 pm
My situation was different - my diagnosing MRI was within a month of the surgery due to brain compression and brainstem displacement so a second one wasn't needed. 
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: amymeri on February 26, 2008, 04:47:48 pm
Diagnosed March 8th and surgery April 14

I think radiation treatment would probably require a very UTD MRI
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Gennysmom on February 26, 2008, 05:36:58 pm
Diagnosis 3/1/06 and surgery 7/5/06, Translab, and they used my original MRI.  Could this be the first case of an AN vanishing without treatment???? That would be interesting!
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: GM on February 26, 2008, 07:43:38 pm
Yes...MRI was completed prior to my Gamma Knife procedure...

Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on February 26, 2008, 07:52:09 pm
1st MRI May 2007. My surgery was done August 2007 with no new MRI done just prior to surgery… only post surgery.

4

Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: BDB on February 27, 2008, 11:11:47 am
Had mri and ct scan done last week,have first ck treatment tommorrow.Had first mri done about 1 1/2mos.ago.
Bruce
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Sheryl on February 27, 2008, 07:47:09 pm
Husband had CK done 10/1/07 for another type of benign brain tumor (meningioma) and had CT scan and MRI done 9/27/07 for mapping purposes - they wanted very up-to-date images even though last MRI was 8/22/07 but not at their facility.
Sheryl
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Raven on February 28, 2008, 04:51:01 pm
Initial MRI in July 07 that showed the ANs, then an MRI an hour before the first surgery on Nov. 7, then another MRI an hour before the second surgery a week later.

John
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: ppearl214 on February 28, 2008, 05:05:57 pm
Husband had CK done 10/1/07 for another type of benign brain tumor (meningioma) and had CT scan and MRI done 9/27/07 for mapping purposes - they wanted very up-to-date images even though last MRI was 8/22/07 but not at their facility.
Sheryl

what she said... same here.  MRI done 1wk before CK treatment to help map.
Phyl
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Jackie on March 02, 2008, 10:24:21 am
Thank-you to those of you who replied to this post. I am reading them all! Hhmmmmmm..... interesting that only 20 people have posted!!! Thank-you
Jackie
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Dan on March 02, 2008, 11:37:47 am
First MRI 9 May 2007 second MRI 9 Aug 2007, OP 21 Sept 2007

Dan in Germany
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: jerseygirl on March 02, 2008, 12:02:02 pm
Jackie,

I had two AN microsurgeries and both times I had MRIs a day or two before the surgery. One of the neurosurgeons explained to me that they want very recent MRI because they don't want an unpleasant surprise of the tumor growing much bigger all of a sudden. It rarely happens but it does anyway. They have to plan and estimate and a bigger tumor might  require different instruments, operating times and so on. Hope it helps.

                  Eve
Title: Re: Regarding any and all procedures
Post by: Pembo on March 03, 2008, 06:17:08 pm
MRI one month before surgery and an MRI 12 hours AFTER surgery.