Just wantedd to share this.
I found two hospitals in NY that have performed SRS on spinal tumors. Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY and Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY,NY. I do not beleive they have performed on Hemangioma's yet but from what I have read, it sounds promising provided the situation is a right fit.
They use the Novalis Shaped Beam Surgery System. It is a "frameless" Gamma Knife with the CAT scan built in. This allows the use of real time radiographics to establish the position of the tumor.
While, as always, the use of SRS to treat any tumor needs to be well thought out with many considerations, this technology sounds to me to have a promising future for fellow VHL travelers.
I am waiting for a call back from my neurosergeon in Burlington, MA to discuss this possibility with my 3 new Lumbar Hemangiomas. Because of post surgical complications, I really need to avoid Surgery if I can. Hopefully, I will talk to him tomorrow.
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SRS for Spinal Tumors
- By Rick
- Posted November 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm · 5 replies
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- By gale
- Posted November 10, 2008 at 10:01 pm
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The best to you. Let us know what happens.
I had all my surgeries at Mt Sinai; three brain and 1 spinal cord surgery and an adrenal surgery, but that doesn't count in this case. The last neuro surgery was in done in 1993. Although my neuro has since past away, perhaps there is someone left from his team. His name was Dr Sachdev.
Gale
- By joyceg98
- Posted November 11, 2008 at 11:35 am
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The team with the most experience treating hemangioblastomas in the spine with SRS is at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Dade Lunsford's office is happy to review scans and discuss treatment plans with you and your doctor. I would strongly recommend you take advantage of this generous offer, to get the perspective of their experience.
Not all spinal tumors are good candidates for this procedure, so if they advise against it, don't insist.
See http://www.vhl.org/stereo to see the considerations we are looking at with the brain. There is even less available space in the spinal column, so any swelling of the target tumor could put you in a very threatening situation. Be sure to go through the list of questions to ask your doctor BEFORE the treatment.
And we would like to hear your experiences with SRS in the spinal cord, both positive and negative. Please send information to me at director@vhl.org
Many thanks and all best wishes,
Joyce
- By Rick
- Posted November 11, 2008 at 7:10 pm
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Thank you for your response Gail and Joyce. I have had two SRS procedures so far, both in the brain, your absolutely right about the considerations. My wife and I have taken the time to make very thoughtfull decisions both times and in both cases, it was the right decision and the procedures were very successfull.
My hopes were a bit short lived as I spoke with Dr. Dempsey @ Lahey today and he confirmed that my recent bladder changes could most definately be from one or more of my lumbar tumors, there are three. In addition, he thought the size, location, and recent growth of the tumors would make then not very good candidates. No room for SRS swelling anymore, oh well. I certainly would have loved to contact Dr. Dade Lunsford and have him review my scans. I have an appointment with Dr. David @ Lahey on Friday to discuss and schedule the surgery.
- By JennyBlue
- Posted November 12, 2008 at 8:10 am
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If you are willing to travel to NYC. I highly recommend at least sending a copy of your MRI's to Dr. Paul McCormick at NY Pres. I know you have made your decision regarding SRS. He may have another name or a different course of action for you to consider.
Best wishes
Jennifer
- By Myway
- Posted November 14, 2008 at 3:35 pm
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Hi,
I too have been looking a SRS for my son who has a large tumour in the middle of his spine, he too has had SRS for two brain tumours, both of which have been successful.
I am sad to say it was concluded that because of the nature of his tumour, the fact that it was enveloping the spinal chord and causing problems with his mobility meant it definately was not a good candidate for SRS. It also is in-operable, so it has been decided to try radiotherapy which is a lot less harsh than SRS, it still causes swelling but in a much more controlled way. He is to have 30 doses given daily Mon-Fri over 6 weeks, so far he has had 8, he has steriods to help control the swelling. This is his only chance left to him to keep some mobility.
My son had surgery in August this year to remove a tumour and two syrinx from T4/5 - this was a success, now we hope that the radiotherapy will arrest the growth of this other one.
All the best to you.
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