JoAnne,



Congratulations on your good news!



I want to use this opportunity to also address a common finding on
postsurgical/post-treatment MRIs. I always obtain a copy of my films and
report to maintain a record for future medical visits. Many of you do this
as well and it is a practice I highly recommend. However, it is important
to understand that some of the terms used to describe the condition of a
brain which has sustained a tumor, surgery or treatment may sound ‘abnormal’
when in fact, given our circumstances, these may be normal findings.



One of these such words is “encephalomalacia”. If you come across this,
discuss it with your physician but don’t let yourself suffer undo worry.
This has been a question frequently raised after the patient experienced
much unnecessary worry and anxiety.



Some references simply describe encephalomalacia as “softening of the
brain.” Without further explanation, this can be interpreted in a very
scary way. Actually, encephalomalacia is a softening or loss of brain
tissue following cerebral infarction (stroke), cerebral ischemia (lack of
blood supply), infection, head/brain trauma ( pressure from a tumor, brain
surgery, radiation, etc: all could definitely be considered ‘trauma’), or
other injury. Also, when brain tissue dies, it is scavenged up by microglia
and astrocytes (types of nervous system cells) and what is left is what is
called encephalomalacia. Kind of like microscopic ‘swiss cheese’, I guess.
So, on imaging the “brain is softened” or “less dense” in these areas.



I think of it similar to someone who had an appendectomy... the scar on the
abdomen which persists afterwards would not be a normal finding for someone
who never had abdominal surgery, but for someone who has had this surgery,
it’s normal. Just as some of have scars on the outside of our heads, there
are internal changes as well due to the fact that we had
surgery/chemo/radiation, etc.



Just a little “tidbit” of information for those who are interested.



:-)



My best to all of you,

Trisha

Trisha Williams, R.N.

BrainSurgery@Yahoo Group Founder/Moderator

4.8 cm meningioma left frontal/parietal/temporal lobes resected 5/3/99

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_____

From: BrainSurgery@yahoogroups.com [mailto:BrainSurgery@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of JoAnne
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 10:13 AM
To: BrainSurgery@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BrainSurgery@Yahoo] Great followup appointment



I haven't posted in a while but thought it is important to share good
news.
I had my 2 year post surgery check up Friday an the Lahey Clinic in
Boston. There is absolutely no trace of tumor regrowth. You can see
a black hole where the tumor used to be.

I didn't realize how good relief feels cause I didn't think I was even
worried about it. But wow it fees good. I don't have to go back now
for 2 years.

I had a right frontal 3.7cm meningioma removed 09-08-05. No
aftereffects except the usual from surgery and anesthesia.

JoAnne





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