Ask The Doctor
Introducing Dr. Joseph C. Landolfi, D.O.
1. Are ependymomas cancer?
2. What are the statistics on recurrence of those who have had radiation versus those who do not?
3. Can tumor cells spread from the spine to the brain?
4. Is there any correlation between age and the way the tumor grows, or how aggressive it is?
5. What enables the tumor cells to grow when they shouldn't?
6. After XXX years of survival, Do we still need MRIs?
7. This weeks question deals with radiation - that is the prescribed treatment after surgery for many of us
8. Are ependymomas slow growers?
9. How common is the "Nerve Mapping Technique"?
10. What are these classes of drugs that can be used to control muscle spasticity (and neuropathies)?
11. Upon recurrence, do ependymomas return as a higher grade? If so, why?
12. What is the difference between encapsulated and un -encapsulated tumors?
13. It has been noticed that the intensity of the pain increases with stress, too much physical activity, cold weather, and other things. Is this pain to last forever?
14. What are the differences between cyberknife and gamma-knife? Is one better than the other? Why?
15. After diagnosis of a primary spinal tumor, do you feel that the entire CNS pathway (including the brain) should receive an MRI? How often?
16. What is a sub-ependymoma, and how does it differ from an ependymoma?
17. We wonder - if radiation does damage to points along the path, why does it take time for that damage to show?
18. Adult ependymomas occur most frequently around 34 years of age - Why Then?
19. I understand that a tumor is a "mass" of cells. Are these mutant cells, or are they "normal" cells that behave errantly?
20. What is the Blood - Brain Barrier, and what steps are employed to breach it?
21. Why is a recurrence tumor more agressive/higher grade?
22. Is there any evidence to show whether or not the swallow reflex can be coaxed back?
23. If we are Tumor Free following surgery/treatment mean we are cured?
24. What treatments do you feel are the most promising, and - do you feel there will be a "cure" in our lifetime?
25. What can you tell us about the use of Botox in treating some deficits?
26. What is "slow growing"?
27. How often should the entire CNS pathway be scanned via MRI?
28. How does radiation work?
29. Do you think that facial spasms and ear noises are a result of radiation damage?
30. Is there a direct relationship between radiation treatments, and deterioration of teeth or bones?
31. Are symptoms likely to improve with the passage of time?
32. When looking at an MRI that includes ependymoma tumors...
33. What does a PET scan show, and when is it used? How about a CT scan?
34. Why is the floor of the 4th ventricle the most common spot of occurrence for ependymomas of the brain?
35. Once a recurrence has happened, are the chances for further recurrences heightened?
36. Do you feel there will be a "cure" in our lifetime?
37. Can a craniotomy cause personality changes in the things one likes or dislikes?
38.
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