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Cavernoma or Ependymoma Surgery

Hi, This is regards to my mother who has been experiencing some speech slur, hand shaking, and difficulty walking reasonable distances. She is 65, 5'5", 72 kgs and resides in India. They ran through several tests and were finally suggested a brain MRI.

The diagnosis by a neurologist in consultancy with a neurosurgeon was the following:
1.Tectal plate Cavernoma causing obstruction of aqueduct.

2. Dilated 3rd and lateral ventricles.

A shunt procedure to drain the CSF was suggested.

Upon consulting a second neurosurgeon, a shunt procedure followed by a surgical correction of the source of the problem was suggested. It was not clarified by me whether this surgeon diagnosed it as a Cavernoma or another issue.

With the original MRI in hand, we consulted a neurosurgeon and neuro-radiologist here in the US, with the help of a mutual contact, and their reading of it was  it was not a cavernoma, but a Ependymoma, in the wall of the ventricle, located near the Pons in the brain and Cereballa aqueduct, thus causing the blockage. It was suggested that along with a shunt procedure, a followup surgery to remove the tumor should be done. They also suggested MRI of the spine to rule out tumors there.

My questions are the following:

1. Are the diagnosis received cause for immediate concern, i.e., does the shunt procedure have to be done immediately? (I can upload MRI scans as needed)
2. Considering the difference in opinion is it better to have procedure done here in the US? Is the particular expertise and operating facilities required in this case highly advanced and available more pervasively here in the US? (Any ballpark cost estimate would be fantastic, since she doesn't have insurance support here)

3. What are the recovery timelines and complications (if any) for a surgical removal of the tumor?

Please guide in any possible way. Thanks so much in advance!
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Avatar universal
I had a brain tumor and had it removed im still having headaches but I think she needs to get an MRI and make sure it hasn't grown
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I hope this helps a little I just went three 8 months of having terrible headaches I had 4 MRI and had to see three different Drs they started me out on some pills not wanting to do surgery but they were getting worse come to find out I had a ependymoma tumor in the 4th ventricle it started out small in March it was 3/8"x3/8"x7/16" but on April 22nd a two hour procedure turned into a 4 hour one it had doubled in size the MRI wasn't showing the hole thing it may 11 I'm doing good still hurts and not back to my usual self yet but I'm getting better I would say it's not something to forget about the bad thing is mine is the type that might grow back it is binine if you have any questions you can send me a message I'll try to answer any questions that I can
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Avatar universal
If your mom is healthy and in good condition (as in this is her only health issue) and she has a good mental outlook, then odds can be very favorable. I would say it takes at least one month, sometimes more, to recover from the surgery. The incisions take a while to close as there is a lot of blood supply and I have had many surgeries (now 13) and my surgical recovery for my head was not so bad, it just was... well... annoying. You cannot bend over. You forget and roll over on the sore side (I had surgery via my nose, but developed nerve pain on one side of my face). But once you get things set up like slip on shoes, put things up where they can be reached and get things where you can function, it works.

Any surgery - it is the anesthesia - makes you tired and reduces concentration - so expect that.

Complications are always scary but thankfully rare, especially in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Stroke is the biggest.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your response!  Yes, it was intended for a doctor's forum, but medhelp has closed that.

Could you please say something regarding recovery times and any complications for a tumor removal surgery?

Thanks!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is a patient forum. The way your question is formed, it should be addressed by a doctor.

From what I know, the shunt will reduce pressure. They are sometimes temporary and sometimes long term, but often needed to reduce stress and symptoms.

Imaging is not a perfect thing and it is often not possible to tell what is there until the surgeon opens things up.
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