PJmomrunner
Well-known member
Hi folks! I'm not sure where to post this, or why it took me so long, but I find it difficult to say this stuff out loud, or put it in print, I guess. I mentioned in a previous post that I was going to see a neurosurgeon about an incidental finding of a paraspinal "neurogenic tumor." My appointment was a week and a half ago.
The neurosurgeon says the tumor is a Schwannoma, which is a type of neurogenic (originating on a nerve) tumor. Mine is located on a sympathetic nerve at T4 on my spine and will either be removed when my aneurysm and valve are addressed (which is scheduled for who-knows-when), or after, or possibly not at all. It did grow between January and November, so I'm guessing removal is likely because it is generally best to remove them before they are big enough to cause problems (like invading the spinal column...), however I guess June 7 will show if it continues to grow (???). It is very likely non-cancerous because most Schwannomas are, although it is possible it is cancerous as Schwannomas can convert from benign to cancerous with radiation exposure (hmm...maybe my annual CT's of my aneurysm should be MRI's in the future???). The nerve the tumor is on controls the speeding up of the heart. I do not know what the implications of that are, if any, as I discovered this info on my own after my appointment. The neurosurgeon said he would not remove it before I have my OHS because in order to fully visualize the tumor he would have to manipulate my aneurysmal aortic arch (move it aside) which is of course not advisable. He is consulting with the CT surgeon. I do wonder how much time such a procedure would add to my OHS and whether adding any is advisable. I suppose that's at least part of what he'll talk to the CT surgeon about.
I am scheduled for cervical and thoracic spine MRI's (the former without contrast the latter with) in the beginning of June and will have a followup visit with the neurosurgeon at that time. I guess he wanted a six month interval between imaging studies. My PCP thought he'd want to do an MRI before seeing me because an MRI will show more about the nature of the tumor, but he didn't, so I guess he's pretty confident it's not an immediate problem. (i.e. cancer or the source of my back pain) He assures me it is not what's causing my back pain because it's on a sympathetic nerve and he suspects I may have degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine that's causing referred pain to the thoracic area. Swell.
Ahh...life in limbo.... I am not sure how to take this info. I am finding it difficult to be around people--I don't work outside the home and barely manage to get through my work inside the home--largely because my thoughts are so consumed by "my circumstance" that I find it hard to keep my thoughts on anything long enough to converse intelligently. I've cut way back on my volunteer work because I need to concentrate on my family--partially a "nesting" sort of thing (I only want to be with them) and partially a real need to concentrate to remember anything--I can't have my husband and kids slipping between the cracks! I kind of wanted to post on the "anger and sadness" thread, but except for some definite stamina issues--part lack of conditioning, I guess, and part back pain--and general depression, my problems are really sort of theoretical and so minor compared with many of you.
The neurosurgeon says the tumor is a Schwannoma, which is a type of neurogenic (originating on a nerve) tumor. Mine is located on a sympathetic nerve at T4 on my spine and will either be removed when my aneurysm and valve are addressed (which is scheduled for who-knows-when), or after, or possibly not at all. It did grow between January and November, so I'm guessing removal is likely because it is generally best to remove them before they are big enough to cause problems (like invading the spinal column...), however I guess June 7 will show if it continues to grow (???). It is very likely non-cancerous because most Schwannomas are, although it is possible it is cancerous as Schwannomas can convert from benign to cancerous with radiation exposure (hmm...maybe my annual CT's of my aneurysm should be MRI's in the future???). The nerve the tumor is on controls the speeding up of the heart. I do not know what the implications of that are, if any, as I discovered this info on my own after my appointment. The neurosurgeon said he would not remove it before I have my OHS because in order to fully visualize the tumor he would have to manipulate my aneurysmal aortic arch (move it aside) which is of course not advisable. He is consulting with the CT surgeon. I do wonder how much time such a procedure would add to my OHS and whether adding any is advisable. I suppose that's at least part of what he'll talk to the CT surgeon about.
I am scheduled for cervical and thoracic spine MRI's (the former without contrast the latter with) in the beginning of June and will have a followup visit with the neurosurgeon at that time. I guess he wanted a six month interval between imaging studies. My PCP thought he'd want to do an MRI before seeing me because an MRI will show more about the nature of the tumor, but he didn't, so I guess he's pretty confident it's not an immediate problem. (i.e. cancer or the source of my back pain) He assures me it is not what's causing my back pain because it's on a sympathetic nerve and he suspects I may have degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine that's causing referred pain to the thoracic area. Swell.
Ahh...life in limbo.... I am not sure how to take this info. I am finding it difficult to be around people--I don't work outside the home and barely manage to get through my work inside the home--largely because my thoughts are so consumed by "my circumstance" that I find it hard to keep my thoughts on anything long enough to converse intelligently. I've cut way back on my volunteer work because I need to concentrate on my family--partially a "nesting" sort of thing (I only want to be with them) and partially a real need to concentrate to remember anything--I can't have my husband and kids slipping between the cracks! I kind of wanted to post on the "anger and sadness" thread, but except for some definite stamina issues--part lack of conditioning, I guess, and part back pain--and general depression, my problems are really sort of theoretical and so minor compared with many of you.
