[NPInfo] update on my sister's mass

[GRETAOB at aol.com]

Thank  you to those of you who provided me with information and support in 
regards to  my sister’s mediastinal mass.  I  wanted to provide you with an 
update: 
The mass proved to be a posterior mediastinal mass.   It was impinging on her 
esophagus  and trachea.  Upon further scans  they decided to take her to 
surgery.  The mass was larger than they expected but they were able to remove it  
and some surrounding lymph nodes.  She required a chest tube and was in ICU 
for 2 days.   
Fortunately, it proved to be a benign schwannoma, a tumor arising  from nerve 
sheath.  They're usually benign as it was in my sister’s case.  The most 
common type of this tumor  affects the eighth cranial nerve and hearing loss is a 
common symptom (also  known as vestibular schwannomas or acoustic neuromas).  
The schwannomas that can arise  from neurofibromatosis are much more likely to 
be malignant.   
As in the case of my sister, schwannomas also appear  on the roots of the 
nerves that come off of the spinal cord.  They are slow growing (my sister  
apparently had a chest xray several years ago that revealed a mediastinal  widening 
and the radiologist recommended a CT scan for further evaluation; her  
physician failed to note this).  She  was asymptomatic until a few days before this 
admission and even though it was  found to be impinging on her trachea, she 
exercised just a few days prior to  diagnosis.   
Within  24 hours after the surgery, her trachea and esophagus were back in 
place.  She states the chest tube removal was  the most painful experience.  She 
is  extremely fatigued but improving every day.
 
When  I looked up some info on this type of tumor, I ran into a you-tube 
video for a  patient who was to have his schwannoma removed.  It was set to the 
tune of  My Sharona.  Very fitting.
 
Thank  you again,
Greta
 



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