Among the off-gridiron tales getting consideration throughout this yr’s Super Bowl was the brainstem tumor that sidelined Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s spouse in 2019.
The situation – a cranium base dysfunction referred to as acoustic neuroma, or vestibular schwannoma – was benign, and Kelly Stafford appeared wholesome and joyful as she watched her husband’s crew beat the Cincinnati Bengals within the Super Bowl, however her story heartened mind specialists who deal with such a mind tumor.
“These benign tumors are some of the widespread within the mind, affecting one in each 100,000 individuals,” stated Dr. Marc Eisen, a neurotologist with the Ear Specialty Group of Connecticut and affiliated with the Hartford HealthCare Ayer Neuroscience Institute. “They develop from the overlaying of one of many nerves that runs from the brainstem to the ear.”
Symptoms of an acoustic neuroma embody:
Hearing loss.
Ringing in a single ear.
Dull headache.
Imbalance and vertigo.
The imbalance was the symptom Kelly Stafford first seen quickly after having her third baby. Medication didn’t assist and an MRI confirmed the presence of a tumor, which was later eliminated throughout a 12-hour surgical procedure.
Large tumors, Dr. Eisen famous, can change into life-threatening if they start to compress the mind stem, though that scenario is uncommon.
“Some of them don’t develop and should not have to be handled, however they have to be monitored” he stated. “For those who want therapy, choices embody centered beam radiation remedy and microsurgical elimination.”
Many acoustic neuromas may be monitored for any development, and Ayer has assembled an knowledgeable multispecialty crew to help sufferers with issues of the cranium base. This contains Dr. Eisen, neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Schwartz, and different specialists in neurosurgery, neurotology, neurohinology, audiology, ophthalmology, endocrinology and radiation oncology.
“Surgical elimination can typically save listening to, however that depends upon the scale of the tumor and different components. Surgical elimination is usually healing,” Dr. Eisen stated.
Anyone experiencing troubling signs ought to converse with their major care supplier, who could make any needed referrals or superior follow-up. The multispecialty method at Ayer permits the crew to coordinate care and create particular person plans of look after every affected person.
https://healthnewshub.org/how-kelly-stafford-matthew-staffords-wife-recovered-from-brain-tumor/
