CT scans to detect brain metassis Posted: 06-03-08 16:56pm
Alright, well in my previous posts i had
mentioned how i was getting head pains
daily and suddenly for over 4 months now.
Just recently i have noticed that the
headaches and pains have a changed a bit.
Before they were sharp short lasting pains
around the top of my head and now im
feeling a pressure and squeesing around
the back and sides of head. After 4 Months
i got tests done including blood test,
ECG, Urine test and of course the CT scan
without contrast to (apparently) rule out
a brain tumor. However i did a tremendous
amount of research in both brain tumors
and neuro imaging and i know that my
family doctor gave me a non contrast CT
scan instead of an MRI because of little
suspision. But the fact is, I read that
MRI's are much more superior then CT scans
in detecting brain metassis. I'm still
waiting for the results of the CT scan and
its been over 2 weeks. If the CT scan
comes back negative should i ask for a
contrast MRI? or should i be able to
potentially rule out brain tumor with just
the CT scan?
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2bbalza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 27
Posted: 06-05-08 18:14pm
is there somebody who can offer me some
advice. its really starting to get to me
so bad that im almost always depressed.
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CarolDiane
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Posted: 06-05-08 18:23pm
I can give you some advice. First of all
there are three level of scans.
CT
MRI
PET
Each of these level goes deeper into the
area that may have a detection. Now, if
you have a CT scan, there is alot of thing
that can be missed. Cancer for one. If you
have an MRI, somethings my show up as
shadows. But, with contrast it will glow
white. This is usualy done for brakes and
facet changes in you spine. ei.....disc
problems etc....
Now, if the doctor seriously thinks cancer
is detected, he will order a Pet scan.
Why? Because a PET scan is the deepest
X-Ray right now know to man. All cancer
cells will radiate bright red on the image
film. There is no doubt with a PET scan.
ALL should be done with contrast.
Hope this helped
Last edited by CarolDiane on 06-05-08 18:25pm; edited 1 time in total
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loulou180884
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 2
hi Posted: 06-05-08 18:23pm
try not to worry..i know its easy to say
but wait and see...it could be alot of
things and im sure you are in fine
hands.wishing you luck.x
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2bbalza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 27
Posted: 06-05-08 19:02pm
well do you think it would nessesary for
me to ask for an MRI with contrast for my
situation. Iv been getting these headaches
all the time, they havnt really gotten any
worse but they've changed a bit in the way
they feel. Im only 17 and its been going
on for 4 months without any really major
new symptoms. sometimes ill feel like i
had one to many drinks or something but
thats the only other thing i can really
thing of. I also have quite a bad case of
TMJ
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CarolDiane
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Posted: 06-06-08 02:41am
Yes, I do think it would be a good idea.
Just for the fact of the on going
headahes. It could be just something as
simple as a cronic sinus infection. But,
at least an MRI will go deep enough to
show some question spots if you do have
any. Then after reading those, doc may opt
to do the PET. But please, don't be like I
just to be. Worry about things that are
not fact yet. Your TMJ may or may not be
related. I think an MRI will ease your
mind. You seem very tense about this. You
are litterally making yourself sick. Not a
good thing. Cross that bridge when you
come to it. Chill for now and wait and see
what comes from this.
Hugs,
Carrie
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2bbalza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 27
Posted: 06-06-08 14:36pm
i know i should relax, andur right an MRI
would ease my mind becxause it would rule
out a secondary cause such a Tumor.
however my Doctor doesnt believe it has
anything to do with a tumor since i had no
abnormalities on ym neurological exam and
because of my age and so on. He said if
the CT scan came back negative then he
wouldnt even think twice about it, but i
dont see why he thinks that because is
often misses things and an MRI doesnt. Im
going to see him in 2 weeks to get the
results from my Ct scan and im going to
try and push for any MRI. The headaches
however are not "steady" they will usualy
feel like a squeezing prsuure in the back
of my head that can usualy be relved by
stretching my neck and so on. But
sometimes when im playing my guitar or
slouched st the com,puter it will have a
sudden shock of pain over the back top of
my head lasting secondsadn it often scares
me but i could be a muscle spasm
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2bbalza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 27
Posted: 06-21-08 20:05pm
alright so i went to the chiropractor and
had 2 visits. He said that there was three
things wrong with my neck plus my TMJ
which is a sever case he booked me for 8
appts and said that these head pains will
go away afte5r treatment and he also said
that the CT scan will detect anything if
it is present and that i shouldnt have to
go for an MRI. Do you think i should trust
him?
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CarolDiane
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Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2390 Location: ,
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Posted: 06-22-08 05:46am
Well, I am not one for chiropractors. I
would rather see an Osteopath with a
degree. I do agree with the rest of you
plan and if there is some suspision, they
can always do a deeper Pet scan. You can
start with th CT and work up from there.
You are in my thoughts
These scanners were all devised from
Tesler technology. One of the leading
scientist in his generation. He was an
Eienstien.
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2bbalza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 27
Posted: 06-22-08 10:53am
well i dont know if its the same in
america but in canada we have medicare so
headaches are generally not warranted for
neuro imaging with a normal neurological
exam. which i had twice now both normal. I
had to beg for a CT scan and he assured me
if i had something wrong it would be on
the CT scan and my chiropractor said the
same thing. I could still try for an MRI
but i really dont see the point now when
looking at it statistics wise. 2 in every
100 000 kids and teens will harbour a
brain tumor and of those only 8% will have
headache as an isolated finding. so with
the negative CT Scan i really dont think
its nessesary because im not even getting
headaches just very short lasting sharp
kinda feeling head pains and the chiro
assured me it was because of my neck. as
far as PET scan go they only order those
if something is found on the MRI that
resembels a tumor they wont order a PET
scan unless they are almost certain there
is something there. Which in my case im
sure would be very very unlikely. but your
posts did help me come to realise that.
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CarolDiane
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Posted: 06-22-08 11:10am
You are right on. First if they do a CT
and suspect a shadow that may or may not
look remarkable, they then will go to an
MRI w/o contrast. Sometimes without
contrast is useless, others it will
highlight the suspious area right away.
Most doc's here in the U.S. do order w/o
and do a comparison. If the the MRI comes
back very conculsive of an anomilie, they
will then do a PET which is the upmost
conclusive for cancer tumors. But, if the
tumor is benign, it will not radiate and
light up red. It will only show as another
dark showdow. PET is only used to rule out
any kind of cancer cells the are
malignient.
I know how hard it must be for you to have
to beg and on your knees for a test. But,
wait and see and don't stress yourself out
about it. Sounds like you have had what
needs to be done with perphaps nothing
even found. Keep you chin up.
Besides, PET scans are worse the MRI's.
They are loader and longer. But, I willl
say this much. They are sure advanced
technology IMHO. I worked at a hospital
that had the privledge of having one of
the first closed PET scanners. They are a
beautiful piece of medical equipment.
Carrie
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2bbalza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 27
Posted: 06-22-08 11:30am
thank you very much for your advice. So if
and when the CT scan comes back negative
should i stop worrying and forget about
the whole thing and see if the
chiropractor will help. After all this
chiro seems to be very good at what he
does and really seems to know what hes
doing and he did say that i had a sever
case of w.e was wrong.
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CarolDiane
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Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2390 Location: ,
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Posted: 06-22-08 12:05pm
2bbalza
wrote:
thank you very much for your
advice. So if and when the CT scan comes
back negative should i stop worrying and
forget about the whole thing and see if
the chiropractor will help. After all this
chiro seems to be very good at what he
does and really seems to know what hes
doing and he did say that i had a sever
case of w.e was
wrong.
Absolutly! There is alway a second opinion
if you are really concerned. The way I
feel, if there is pain, there has to be a
reason. Make someone come up with that
reason. I am glad you found a good chiro.
Most I have met are ones that wanted to
really go to school for osteopathic
mediciane and could not afford to go that
far. Believe me, they know all 206 bones,
that is for sure.
