1)
Being diagnosed with a Schwannoma is a frequently
confusing and upsetting situation for those who are affected by these
tumors. What would you say is the most important advice that you would
give someone newly diagnosed with a Schwannoma?
What are, in your opinion, are wise first steps to take ?
The best advice if once diagnosed with a Schwannoma is to confirm the diagnosis and obtain all the details. Where
is the tumor, how large is it? Is it compressing by spinal cord or brain? Do I need to be screened for other tumors. Fortunately
the vast majority of these tumors are benign and do not require any
treatment further than surgery. One needs to be certain it is a
schwannoma and not another tumor type.
However the only sure way to have the correct diagnosis is surgery and
then histological analysis/biopsy of the tumor
2)
I have said to people on our FB page that, from my own experience,
being diagnosed with a Schwannoma usually means that one will face
surgery at some point, now or later. I asked my own GP and neurosurgeon
if they would validate that statement, generally, and they both said
yes. Do you also take this view that Schwannomas will, in most or
almost all cases, require surgery at some point? And what are some
cases, if you can give any general or specific advice,
in which one may NOT want to opt for removal of their Schwannoma?
Please share any specifics you can to shed some light on the removal or
non-removal of Schwannomas.
Once diagnosed most people will
require surgery as although these tumors are benign they do grow slowly.
The only exception that surgery is not needed is when these tumors are
very small or in a location which does not compress the
spinal cord, brain or nerves.
3)
In your own career as a surgeon, in the cases where you have had to
help patients confront Schwannomas, approximately what percentage of
those were removed by surgery? I understand specifics may not be
possible,
but a general estimation would perhaps be helpful in helping people
understand how many have to come out, and how many are treated or
monitored by other means.
I would say that I have only observed 10% of patients as the remaining patients (patients that do not have their Schwannomas removed). We do not operate on some smaller tumors in older patients. Of the Schwannomas we see we operate on approximately 90% due to the fact that patients either have symptoms from the tumor or the tumor has grown on serial MRI scans.
4) People are
frequently confused and feeling a bit lost after diagnosis with a
Schwannoma. Are there any online resources that you would suggest for
those who are newly diagnosed? Anything to help them understand
their situation better?
No good sites as most focus on multiple schwannomas or neurofribromatosis. *Note from Neil - we hope to remedy this!
5) Do you have a
suggestion as to what hospitals and research hospitals are the best when
it comes to Schwannoma surgery? We all understand that Johns Hopkins,
your hospital, is one of the top facilities anywhere
- but for those in other parts of the country who may not have easy
access to JH, are there any other excellent programs that you would
suggest? I do not recommend any specific hospital but to ask your surgeon how many such tumors he/she has operated on and long term results. You just want to have an experienced surgeon perform the operation.
Dr. George I. Jallo
Professor of Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics and OncologyClinical Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Director, Neurosurgery Residency Program
Director, Neurosurgery Residency Program
CONTACT INFORMATIONThe Johns Hopkins Hospital
Department of Neurosurgery
600 N. Wolfe Street, Phipps 556
Baltimore, MD 21287
Department of Neurosurgery
600 N. Wolfe Street, Phipps 556
Baltimore, MD 21287
410-955-7851 (p)
410-955-7862 (f)
(Disclaimer: advice shared on this
blog or on our related Facebook page cannot be a replacement for proper
medical treatment by a trained physician. Speak with a Doctor before
making any medical decisions.)
