Meningioma: Anyone else? I'm frightened

There are two ways to arrange a Mayo brain tumor zoom session:

1. you go on to mayo clinic website and search a”brain tumor” and can see the choice of drs (focus on ones that make zoom appts) and there appears to be scheduling link

2. You call central scheduling and request brain tumor zoom consult:

408-301-8484 hours scheduling is open, 8 am —5 pm M-F

Then you ask for assistance in having your images transferred there before your appointment. My MRI was done at a major academic center so it was in “powershare” system. I also sent a release of info consent to the facility that did my last MRI, i also reached out to my neuro-opthamologist office and then sent an official referral (was not required) and also help coordinate the timely transfer of images from where they were taken to mayo clinic.

Wishing you all the best

Here is exactly what the radiologist observed.

There is a multi compartmental meningioma centered in the right middle cranial fossa that extends into the right cavernous sinus and sella with gentle mass effect on the pituitary gland. This encases the cavernous right internal carotid artery with mild vascular narrowing. There may be some contact of the prechiasmatic right optic nerve at the superior orbital fissure.

Thank you

There is a multi compartmental meningioma centered in the right middle cranial fossa that extends into the right cavernous sinus and sella with gentle mass effect on the pituitary gland. This encases the cavernous right internal carotid artery with mild vascular narrowing. There may be some contact of the prechiasmatic right optic nerve at the superior orbital fissure.

Wishing you all the best

Thank you for sharing your experience. It helps when I hear that this could be not as scary as I am thinking. I had back surgery in 2022 and hip replacement in 2023 so I'm no stranger to surgery (also have had my spleen removed) but for some reason cutting into my skull just makes me cringe 😬

My neurosurgeon wants to do a craniotomy but it's not a full craniotomy. The incision is from behind my ear to top of my head just behind the hairline. My meningioma is on my left olfactory groove ( but too late to do the procedure that goes through the nose, I have done that research). I'm starting to get used to the idea, this group is very helpful. Thank you for sharing.

have you explored radiation to shrink the tumor?

I have a brain tumor and had Gama Ray done and my tumor has not grown.

I have and if I were younger I would probably try that first. I'm 64 and if radiation doesn't shrink it or even if it does, it could still grow back and I agree with my surgeon that I don't want to be much older and have to go through the craniotomy. They are going to leave 5% of the tumor so that they have a barrier "flap" to help keep spinal fluid out of my sinus cavity. The leakage would put me at risk for meningitis which is a threat for me. Not having a spleen makes it hard for your body to fight off certain infections, meningitis being one of them. I keep up on my meningitis vaccines for that reason.
So I might have to have radiation a year post op just to keep that 5% from growing.