Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your symptoms and they are very unlikely to be due to brain tumor. Moreover, a normal CT scan five months ago is also reassuring, as it rules out brain tumor or any other serious brain disease.
The most common causes of your symptoms could be mild pinching of nerves in cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) regions.
Physical therapy and back/neck extension exercises would help in you getting better.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sudhir Kumar MD (Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist
Patient replied :
Hi doctor, As far as brain tumors go i was wondering if a 5 months old cat scan is pretty reliable? I feel a little dizzy at times , I've never fallen down though. I also have headaches. They come and go nothing to sever usually I feel like pressure on the top back of my head. They mostly go away with Motrin 800mg. I'm 19 am I at a higher risk as I read brain tumors are common in my age. Besides those symptoms I don't really have anything else. What are common symptoms as far as brain tumors go and how rare are they? Also I seem to wake up dizzy sometimes . It usually goes away but will come back later on for a little while. Also would the ct catch any tumor in the brain that caused symptoms? Would it catch a tumor in the cerebrum or brain stem? I'm very nervous
Thank you for getting back.
I can understand your anxiety, however, brain tumors are very rare. In patients with symptoms like yours, brain tumor could be seen in lesser than one person out of 1000.
CT scan can pick up tumors in cerebrum and brain stem. However, very small tumors (1-2 mm) may occasionally be missed on CT scan.
If you are really anxious, you can get a repeat brain scan done,preferably an MRI brain.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sudhir Kumar MD (Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist
Patient replied :
Hi doctor . So the tingling and stuff went away . I ended up going to the E.R twice and they said it was not a brain tumor has I had a ct scan done 5 months ago .. And a tumor would not grow that fast . Also I saw two other doctors as my primary doctor is out ..so a total of four doctors have said I do not have a brain tumor but I have been experiencing dizziness this past week especially at my computer .. I never have experienced this before when I walk and stuff I tend to be fine. I have told two doctors and they dismissed it. Could dizziness be cause by a brain tumor as of now this is my only symptom. Could anxiety be causing this as well ?
Thank you for getting back.
Dizziness alone can not be a symptom of brain tumor. There should be additional symptoms such as headache, vomiting, blurred vision, imbalance while walking, etc.
So, dizziness can be due to anxiety, or in some cases, due to minor problem in the inner ear.
Best wishes,
Patient replied :
It's kind of like a vertigo experience almost and that's still my only symptom.. Does the same thing apply.. I don't really have balancing problems walking around just I experience slight vertigo while laying down or sitting at the computer screen. Other than that I don't really have a problem with anything else as of now. Just to clarify even if it is vertigo for it to be a brain tumor it would have to be more than just vertigo correct ?
Yes, you are right. Vertigo alone is unlikely to be caused by brain tumor. There should be additional symptoms as well.
Your symptoms are suggestive of peripheral vertigo, most often caused by minor inner ear dysfunction.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sudhir Kumar MD (Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist