Glendale resident Edna Minasian, 39, rarely visits the doctor and has an aversion to taking any type of medication even the over-the-counter variety. So when the young mother began experiencing extreme sharp pains in her head she didn’t take any action since these bouts only lasted a few seconds at a time. But it was a trip to the DMV to have her drivers license renewed that changed everything.
“I was taking the vision test and when asked to cover my right eye, I was dismayed to discover that I couldn’t see the chart at all in my left eye,” she said. “I could see shadows and forms but that was about it.
“What really concerned me is that I rely on my eye sight in my work as a jewelry expert,” said Minasian, who contracts with collectors and auction houses to determine the quality and value of high-end vintage pieces. “When I’m evaluating these treasures from Cartier, Tiffany, Bvlgari and the like, my clients depend on my powers of observation so losing my sight in my left eye terrified me.”
It was only after visiting various doctors that she landed in the offices of brain surgeon Martin Mortazavi, M.D., founder and medical director of the California Institute of Neuroscience in Thousand Oaks. An MRI finally revealed the source of her problem — a tumor called a meningioma that was pressing against her left optic nerve.
“Meningiomas represent the second most common type of tumor of the brain, accounting for approximately 20% of all primary intracranial tumors in adults. As in Edna’s case, they are mostly found in women between late 30s and 70,” said Mortazavi, whose familiarity with this type of tumor is so great that its classification is named after him and a colleague, Sekhar-Mortazavi. “Had Edna not gone to the DMV when she did, the tumor could have kept growing and eventually caused permanent blindness in her eye.”
Mortazavi says that meningiomas are tumors that originate from membrane-like structures that surround the brain and spinal cord. Due to their slow growth, progress of symptoms can be subtle and extend over a period of years. Typically, meningiomas are benign and slow-growing and may occur in areas of the brain other than the optic nerve.
“The tumor was in such a precarious position that any misstep on my part could have resulted in her losing her vision,” said Mortazavi, who has earned a stellar reputation for his ability to perform particularly difficult surgeries in the brain and spinal cord. “Thankfully, the surgery was a total success and Edna was able to see in her left eye again and the shooting pains she was experiencing have dissipated.”
“I was so relieved following surgery,” said Minasian. “Dr. Mortazavi and his team are like a well-oiled machine…so precise and professional. I now have my sight back in both eyes and I’m so grateful. I thank him, his team and, most of all, God.”
Mortazavi said that prior to surgery her vision was 20/150, which is considered legally blind, and today it’s 20/20.
“Being able to help patients like Edna gives me and my team a great deal of satisfaction,” said Mortazavi. “Now she can resume her professional and personal life to the fullest.”
Mortazavi and his team have earned a stellar reputation in the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment and post-surgical aspects of disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and cerebrovascular disease. They are experts at treating aneurysms; arteriovenous malformations (AVM); skull base tumors including pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas and meningiomas; trigeminal neuralgia; and many other medical conditions related to the brain and spine.
Among the areas of specialty: neurology, neurosurgery, psychology, psychiatry, cranial maxillofacial plastic surgery, ENT, spine/peripheral neurosurgery and neuro-ophthalmology.
These comprehensive services offer the patient a holistic approach to care not commonly found in typical neurosurgical practices. Visit cineuro.org or call (805) 795-7656.