Head and Neck Tumor Hemorrhage
What’s in this section?
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of hemorrhages of head and neck tumors are dependent on the size and location of the tumors. They are commonly associated with the following symptoms:
- Headache
- Sudden tingling, weakness, numbness, or paralysis of the face, arms, or legs
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble seeing or loss of vision
- Difficulty with balance
- Trouble speaking
- Issues reading, writing or understanding speech
- Fatigue
- Changes in alertness or consciousness
- Difficulty breathing
- Abnormal heart rate
Diagnosis
Diagnosis starts with a physical exam and medical history. Other procedures and tests may be needed to diagnose, including: magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ), MR angiography ( MRA ), computed tomography ( CT ) or lumbar puncture/ spinal tap .
Treatment Options
There are different treatment options for head and neck tumor hemorrhages:
- Embolization This is a general term for closing off or occluding a vessel. In most cases, the vessel being closed is abnormal, though in some it may be normal but not absolutely necessary for normal function. It is generally done in cases of poorly controlled bleeding, or to reduce bleeding prior to a surgical procedure, and occasionally to cure a lesion of the blood vessels. Endovascular embolization is a treatment where a catheter is placed into an artery in your groin or wrist and directed under an X-ray camera to the vessels that need to be closed. Typically, a smaller catheter is positioned into the vessel, as close to the site of occlusion (closure) as possible. Material is then injected or advanced through the smaller catheter to achieve vessel closure. The material may be small coils, small particles or a liquid material that hardens in the vessel. This is generally done using sedation or anesthesia.
- Rehabilitation Rehabilitation includes treatment to help you recover lost or diminished physical functions caused by the hemorrhage. Rehabilitation may include speech-language, physical and/or occupational therapy.
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