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What Causes Lack Of Peripheral Vision When Perviously Diagnosed With Brain Tumor?
Question: I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, mass, lesion in 2001 after having a brain CT scan.
The neurologist that I saw that evening went back to check the scan that had been done in 1994 and saw a spec which was now a tad smaller than a dime; it was missed and had grown with no growth since then. I have an MRI done each year and the terms used to describe it has been tumor, mass, lesion.
It is situated in the optic chiasm slightly touching the left optic nerve with the last MRI indicating that the shape has changed and now it is ever so lightly touching the pituitary gland.
this fall, my vision was affected; no peripheral vision...tested twice but, it is fine at the moment. I am also a migraine sufferer. I always wonder if this lesion/mass/tumour is part of the pain since I have the typical migraine pain, i.e, left side of brain is usually affected, aura is sometimes present before migraine onset, nausea or vomiting etc. however there is this pain that is bizarre; it is like someone is taking a knife and going right to the middle of my brain with it. My family physician does not believe me. I am meeting with a new neurosurgeon in December since the one I had for years retired. So I am confused about the cause of the pain and wonder if I should even mention it to this new specialist. Sorry for being long winded as I always am and I am a nurse. For the record, this "thing" does not frighten me. There is a record of brain tumors on my father's side of the family. I am one of 6 that have been affected. My grandfather, one aunt and 2 cousins lost their life to this; one cousin and myself are OK.
I just want to understand and learn about the matter.
Thank you, XXXXXXX
The neurologist that I saw that evening went back to check the scan that had been done in 1994 and saw a spec which was now a tad smaller than a dime; it was missed and had grown with no growth since then. I have an MRI done each year and the terms used to describe it has been tumor, mass, lesion.
It is situated in the optic chiasm slightly touching the left optic nerve with the last MRI indicating that the shape has changed and now it is ever so lightly touching the pituitary gland.
this fall, my vision was affected; no peripheral vision...tested twice but, it is fine at the moment. I am also a migraine sufferer. I always wonder if this lesion/mass/tumour is part of the pain since I have the typical migraine pain, i.e, left side of brain is usually affected, aura is sometimes present before migraine onset, nausea or vomiting etc. however there is this pain that is bizarre; it is like someone is taking a knife and going right to the middle of my brain with it. My family physician does not believe me. I am meeting with a new neurosurgeon in December since the one I had for years retired. So I am confused about the cause of the pain and wonder if I should even mention it to this new specialist. Sorry for being long winded as I always am and I am a nurse. For the record, this "thing" does not frighten me. There is a record of brain tumors on my father's side of the family. I am one of 6 that have been affected. My grandfather, one aunt and 2 cousins lost their life to this; one cousin and myself are OK.
I just want to understand and learn about the matter.
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Please discuss every symptom with your new neurosurgeon
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. I presume that the optic chiasm tumor which you have is a slow growing mainly benign tumor. Since it is small for many years and it has not been characterized to be of any specific type, I consider that it is not something which will grow dangerously in the future.
2. Keeping the above in mind, any tumor can cause pressure effects on surrounding structures with features of nerve irritation. Since your tumor is touching the pituitary gland, there is a probability that it might be touching pain sensitive nerve fibers around it.
3. The temporary vision problems can also be due to the tumor causing intermittent pressure over the optic chiasm.
I have seen many brain conditions on scans and a benign tumor or brain lesion which is the size of a pea can be expected to cause pain symptoms in a patient.
In conclusion, it is important to discuss every symptom that you have, whether it is the headache you are having, temporary loss of vision which restored by itself or the aura. Though a migraine pain cannot be completely confirmed, the neurosurgeon should be told about your symptoms in detail.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Please discuss every symptom with your new neurosurgeon
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. I presume that the optic chiasm tumor which you have is a slow growing mainly benign tumor. Since it is small for many years and it has not been characterized to be of any specific type, I consider that it is not something which will grow dangerously in the future.
2. Keeping the above in mind, any tumor can cause pressure effects on surrounding structures with features of nerve irritation. Since your tumor is touching the pituitary gland, there is a probability that it might be touching pain sensitive nerve fibers around it.
3. The temporary vision problems can also be due to the tumor causing intermittent pressure over the optic chiasm.
I have seen many brain conditions on scans and a benign tumor or brain lesion which is the size of a pea can be expected to cause pain symptoms in a patient.
In conclusion, it is important to discuss every symptom that you have, whether it is the headache you are having, temporary loss of vision which restored by itself or the aura. Though a migraine pain cannot be completely confirmed, the neurosurgeon should be told about your symptoms in detail.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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