MRI Results: 3mm Tumor Touching the 8th Cranial Nerve

[Bobster59]

They wouldn't give me diagnosis till I had an MRI. ENT thought I had Meniere's.

But the MRI has reveled a tumor behind my ear and touching the 8th cranial nerve.

I go in for a consultation in two weeks.

Not positive it's an acoustic neuroma yet till they tell me in 2 weeks, only informed it's a tumor at 3 mm. Hoping it's outside the canal. Just goes to show how important it is to get an MRI for a proper diagnosis just in case .

I'll most likely take the wait and watch approach and hope for the best. Many people have their tumors stabilize and some even shrink. Then again many don't and have to make a decision on surgery or gamma knife.

Can't stress enough if you get tinnitus out of the blue, or sudden hear loss or facial numbness don't wait and get an MRI. At least you'll know.

 

[glynis]

Hope you go on ok when you go see them next.
The watch and wait may be done ..
Try not to worry and let them do their job looking after you...
love glynis

 

[dingaling]

The "good news".... these are benign rather than cancerous. They usually grow in the cerebellopontine angle where the hearing nerve exits the internal bony canal into the brain stem and grow very, very slowly (or not at all)

You should see an ENT or neurologist expert in acoustic tumours (vestibular schwammas) where you will be given treatment choices in which watch and wait is one of them. Expect to have repeat MRIs at least once a year

 

[BobDigi]

Good luck man. I hope it's just a bit of a prick and nothing serious.

 

[Starthrower]

@Bobster59 two weeks can seem like a very long time....so sorry you have to wait. I have know a few people with the same diagnosis. This was a while ago so I am trying to remember. I am sure you will make the right decision for yourself.

I do remember both were benign like @dingaling wrote.

Did/do you have sudden hearing loss and facial numbness? Just wondering how intrusive your tinnitus is.

Sending you lots of positive energy.

 

[Bobster59]

@Starthrower I'm educating myself so I'll b prepared when I go in. My first symptom was 16 months ago with a sudden hearing loss then very loud intrusive T when hearing came back next day. No facial numbness. Had more hearing dropouts this past may which got the ball rolling for an MRI. My T actually got a little better with my last round of drop outs. I would imagine it's at least 2 years old and it's 3mm . At my age 63 it's too small for such a drastic procedure. Once it hits 2cm I'll consider gamma knife. I see another MRI in my future in 6 months to check for growth. Sending positive energy back at you !!

 

[Starthrower]

At my age 63 it's too small for such a drastic procedure. Once it hits 2cm I'll consider gamma knife. I see another MRI in my future in 6 months to check for growth.

That is an excellent plan @Bobster. I know it is easier to say on my part. But when I had to wait for certain results of tests for something else I told myself I am not gonna waste two week of my life worrying! Thankfully, my news was good.

When my tests came back showing no increased growth of the benign tumors (five years) that was great to hear. So getting follow up MRIs are a good idea. Right now I am just using natural stuff and I think that is what is helping me. Changing my diet a bit to organics.

@Lane may have some suggestions also.

 

[Bobster59]

Hey @Starthrower , I see your one of the friendly faces here helping people down off the ledge.. I find reading as much as possible about the subject matter calms the worry usually , which in this case it did after reading it will be a watch and wait senario most likely. Stress can make things worse. My T is loud but I have learned to manage it by staying busy. It's not going away so I've accepted it as part of me and overall I'm doing much better though my life has changed. I also eat organic as much as possible and have been on a fruit and veggy diet for months. My weight dropped and my cholesterol went down 37 points over the past 6 months. My Dr was amazed and finally shut up about taking statin drugs . lol You have a great day !

 

[Travis Henry]

How are you now Bob?!