Meningioma: Anyone else? I'm frightened

I had CT last week after I slipped to scan for fracture and was found. Going for mri next week and see neurologist. Said it was small and benign but very scary

welcome to the group,
small and benign is good, I'm not a doctor but from all the post they grow at a very slow rate.
i wouldnt really panic because had the doctor needed to get you in right now , then i may ave been concerned. my tumor took over a year of growing from what they told me and came from my lung. just saying, now ill say a prayer for you--------sent.

@as72: It's always so scary to hear there is any kind of growth in our brains. But as your doctor stated they are almost always benign. There are a lot of very informative posts on this forum so scroll back with pen and pencil in hand and reading about other's experiences will help you formulate a list of questions to ask the neurologist. Personally, I think one of the most important questions is,- based on my meningioma's location what critical structures is it impacting? - Knowing this will help you decide if you can just lay low and not worry too much or if you should be more proactive in choosing a course of action.

@mkoch what is scary is that I get continuous headaches on the left side, (they don’t last long or need Tylenol) but have constant stiffness and tingling down my neck and believe it’s related. When I sleep on my left side I get a headache so even though they say it’s small, 1.8 cm, it must have some impact.

@as72: I am not a medical professional in any capacity but based on all the information I collected when dealing with my own 2.7 cm. meningioma it would seem your 1.8 cm. meningioma is definitely causing symptoms. I didn't really have a headache, per se, but if you pressed on the left side of my forehead, right above my left eyebrow, it was tender and somewhat painful to touch. I also had persistent (and annoying) burning in my left nostril. (Saw an ENT 3 times and he said, "Can't see anything going on here." When the meningioma was found incidentally it was discovered it was pressing on my trigeminal nerve. The tingling down your neck sounds nerve related. Meningiomas are usually treated by surgery or radiation if they are causing uncomfortable symptoms regardless of the size. My neurosurgeon at UCSF said if possible the best outcome would be surgery to remove them. But if one's health, or the location of this usually benign tumor makes surgery not a good choice, then stereotactic radiation is a good second choice. If your neurologist says to just watch-and-wait, please get a second opinion from a neurosurgeon. In fact, I would want a second opinion from a neurosurgeon anyway because both benign and malignant tumors are in their wheel house. A neurologist's specialty is more about diseases of the brain. (But I know a lot of insurances require a referral from a neurologist to see a neurosurgeon.) Let us know it goes after you get your first consult.

I RECENTLY HAD A TUMOR REMOVED. IT WAS 7CM.
IT WAS BENIGN! LIKE YOU, AN MRI, AND MY DOCTORS FOUND IT.. I HAD BEEN SUFFERING WITH LOSS OF MEMORY AND BALANCE, WHICH WAS SCARY. PRAYERS FOR YOU..

@mkoch
I just got into UCSF. What neurosurgeon did you go to? Were you happy with them?

@as72: I saw Dr. Theodosopoulos. I think to secure an appointment with a neurosurgeon UCSF requires you to forward any MRI scans that you have had done previously whereby the meningioma was cited by a radiologist. If the MRI scan was forwarded digitally to UCSF then you could just have a ZOOM/video visit with Dr. Theodosopoulos if that is more convenient for you. That is what I did. He needs to know your symptoms and relaying that information and reviewing the MRI (with you, online) will guide him in determining what course of action he thinks is appropriate. I was very happy with Dr. Theo. He answered all my questions and when I apologized for asking too many he said, "Don't apologize, that's what we're here for." I am so happy to hear that you are being seen at UCSF. U.S. New & World Report rated UCSF #2 in the United States for neurosurgery for 2025-2026. (N.Y.U. was rated #1) And, Dr. Theo. is in charge of overseeing meningioma surgeries as well as the radiation clinic if it is decided that surgery (craniotomy) isn't a good option. I would really like to hear how your visit goes so please keep me posted. You can send a personal message through this forum via @mkoch if you'd prefer.

@mkoch
Thank you for responding. They received my images. Did you have a meningioma and what size? Did you have craniotomy? What do you mean he is in charge of meningioma surgeries?
Was thinking of seeing Dr Aghi or Dr Berger.

@as72: I had a 2.7 centimeter meningioma removed, via surgery (a craniotomy) 2 years ago. Dr. Theodosopoulos stated to me that if the other 2 remaining meningiomas I do have become a problem (they are 6mm & 8mm) I will need to have radiation. And he said that he "runs" the radiation clinic. Am also sending you a private message.