5x5cm Possible astrocytoma in my childs head

[addisondesign]

Hi,

My 2.5 year old son has had left hemiplegia for the last year that has not got worse, he went for an MRI last week which shows a 5x5cm mass of unknown nature, (possibly a grade 2 astrocytoma) deep in his right Parital lobe, which is pushing his right side over to the left, he has no other symptoms such as sickness, dizziness or fits which they  would expect to see with a tumour of this size, they have also said it could be a anterior choroidal infarct / stroke is it possible that such a mass could of been caused by a stroke?? We have been told to wait 2 months for a follow up MRI to see if it has grown.

He had a stressful birth with an eptopic heart beat which we always assumed was the cause of brain damage causing his hemiplegia.  

Is it common for there to not be any diognosics after a MRI, are there many options that could cause such a mass other then a tumour?

Jon

[rumpled]

Oh... that is no fun. I hope you get good news on the next scan.

I do think it is positive, in my layman opinion, that the surgeons did not find anything more.

[addisondesign]

two neurosurgeons and radiologist have looked all confused, just have to wait for next scan now, they said the first scan only finds the mass, the next will determine if its growing

[rumpled]

Did he have the MRI not as result of symptoms, or because something happened?

I would ask if a surgeon reviewed the film. In some cases, surgeons can see more than a radiologist. I know I took my CD (and in the old days, the films) to surgeons so they could see them as they found a lot more than radiologists.

Not to knock the radiologist, but the surgeon has a different view. Just a thought.

[addisondesign]

They didn't want to perform a biopsy in-case it is actually a stroke and because he shows no signs of sickness, dizziness or seizers they are happy to wait 2 months to find out if it is growing.  If he shows any other signs we are to take him back for review

[rumpled]

This is a patient forum, so I can only give a patient view.

If the MRI showed a definite issue (they can tell some types from the MRI based on the shapes from what I know)... they usually act promptly if it is cancer. They could run other testing but may choose to wait due to his age and the trauma of the testing?

I am with you on wondering about the wait since it is already 5x5 and his brain is not that large as it is... Did the doctors sit with you and explain why the wait?

Mass effect (the pushing) can cause a lot of symptoms... why not remove and relieve?