Spleen Mets? Mri vs CT on abdomen?

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Helen-Jackie
Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
Spleen Mets? Mri vs CT on abdomen?
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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited November 2009

    Has anyone had an  abdominal ultrasound and all was clear except for the spleen.?

    I have 2 lesions, and now the doctors want a CT scan. I had bone marrow  test done recently already for a different issue and they were fine.., So i guess I dont have lymphoma etc.. What  else can this be, they say mets to the spleen is rare, ..

    I am scared  to do a CT scan, because of radiation and iodine. Also perhaps on the CT scan they will find more lesions on other areas that were clear.Did that ever happen to you to you?

    Also anyone ever have an MRI done on abdomen area?Maybe I will do that to avoid the radiation.

    Can you spread some thoughts?

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  • Reddish1969
    Reddish1969 Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2009

    Hi! I went through this same thing in the summer. How worried was your Dr.? Mine told me not to worry, to get a CT scan to evaluate multiple MRI lesions on my spleen. Of course, I over researched online, and panicked a lot just before the scan. My Dr. feels that the lesions were there since birth. There were no further findings. And I'm choosing to accept this. I truly hope everything is okay with you.

    I edited the above. MRI report just said "multiple lesions." 

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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited November 2009

    Hi reddish

    thanks for the note.

    So did the ct scan identify anything else. What more did it add.

    I had a bone marrow test so i dont think its a lymphoma. did they discuss that with u. Did u ever have an ultrasound or ct scan before and this showed up/

    I am of course worrying.. and i too researched it for days. Had no chose cuz the doctors are miffed.

    I dont want to do a ct scan but might do an mri instead.. did u do it with contrast dye?

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  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited November 2009

    I went through this in June 2008.  I had a baseline CT/PET scan 3 months after finishing my year on herceptin.

    The report came back with a notation of a metabolically active lesion on the spleen indicative of malignancy.

    After a boatload of additional bloodwork and a High resolution CT abdominal  scan w/wo contrast, the results came back as a congenital malformation of the spleen.

    My last CT/PET in July 2009 showed no sign of the lesion as being metabolically active.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    Okay, this wasn't my spleen, but I'm telling my story anyway.  Smile

    Had CT scan and bone scan before treatment.  The CT scan showed something on my liver and adrenal gland..the radiologist pointed it out to my onc.  So, instead of a liver biopsy I had a PET/CT scan.  It wasn't a malignancy.  I recently had another CT scan.  It showed the same areas on the liver and adrenal which had not changed. 

    I realize this is different than the spleen, but I just wanted to hopefully make you worry a little less. 

    Wow, Sassa, boy did you ever go through so much.  Glad it was nothing.

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  • Reddish1969
    Reddish1969 Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2009

    Helen-Jackie,

    I had the contrast dye. A follow-up breast MRI showed the lesions. Nothing turned up on an ultrasound, but I don't think they were looking particularly at my spleen for that? My Dr. didn't want me to get the MRI in the first place because he thought any incidental findings would frighten me (which they did). I had an abdominal CT scan with contrast, and that confirmed it for him and the technician that it wasn't malignant. And nothing anywhere else, either. Hang in there! I'm hoping yours is nothing!

    Sassa, Wow. That's terrifying.  

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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited November 2009

    Hi reddish

    Sorry for the delay .. I was away, since there is nothing i can do but wait.

    I am confused about what u said.. U said u had a breast mri and it showed the spleen lesions? Di di miss something. My oncologist appointment is tomorrow. He knows nothing of this. I had bone marrow and i am okay there, but onc said its so rare to be breast related. So i will have a ct scan because no one is letting me have an mri on the abdominal area. Did u have one. Thanks

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  • Reddish1969
    Reddish1969 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    Hi! Sorry about the delay, and the confusion. I had a breast MRI instead of a mammogram (five months after my last rad treatment) because they didn't catch the cancer on a mammogram, and I insisted. The MRI turned up the spleen lesions. The CT scan was indicated to follow up on these lesions and somehow showed my Dr. that the lesions were benign. I want to ask him again about why, but he was pretty certain that it wasn't anything for me to worry about. (Yet I still do.) The CT scan didn't turn up any other lesions anywhere else in the abdomen. My feeling is that the CT scan is more specific than the MRI and that's probably why yr dr wants you to have one. Maybe you've heard something by now? Hope you're well!!

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  • Reddish1969
    Reddish1969 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    Helen-Jackie? Thinking of you. I see now that you had an abdominal ultrasound. I didn't. I just had a breast ultrasound. Then the MRI. Be well.

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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited December 2009

    Hi Reddish

    I am scheduled today for an MRI on my abdomen.This is to get a better look at teh spleen lesions noted on the ultrasound I had last month. I wasnt expecting the MRI so quickly and I am not sure if they can note any changes in a month but i will go for it none the less.

    I must admit i do have some worry and wont know till the report comes out next week. I dread that.

    I also have a breast MRi scheduled for next monday. It will be 5 weeks from my surgery time.. so its a follow up. I alternate between breast mri and mammos so every 6 montsh i get something

    How are u now

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  • Reddish1969
    Reddish1969 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    Well, my thoughts are with you. And it's so hard. But remember this, which I read in my frantic research this summer: Cancer, either primary or metastacized, is rare in the spleen.

    I'm feeling very well and enjoying the fall. I hate my hair, but that's another story.

    Do keep me updated. Many hugs.

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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited December 2009

    Hi

    I am back home after a long day. I had the mri, and it was uneventful, now is the waiting . My oncologist should know by tuesday the results. Great.. I am feeling down down down.. Its wasnt ever  a challenge to stay positive but these days i am finding it is. I know it has the power to heal but i am feeling challenged by the system and how hard i have to fight to get anywhere here in canada.

    Thanks for the hugs..

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  • Reddish1969
    Reddish1969 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    Please take care of yourself through this rough week. Hopefully it'll be nothing but a dim memory by the new year. (I was a panicky, panicky mess.) Be well.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Helen-Jackie, I just wanted to make a comment.  When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer there was a lesion on my adrenal gland and liver.  My onc said he would not have noticed, but the rad onc pointed it out to him.  So, instead of a liver biopsy (didn't want to do that!) I had a PET/CT scan.  It showed it was nothing.  Well, just a couple of months ago I had a CT scan and bone scan.  Surprise..there was a lesion on one of my vertebrae.  Not what the onc was looking for..long story.  Anyway, the lesions on my liver and adrenal gland are still there...the same size and thought to be a Hemangioma (sp).

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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited December 2009

    Hi

    thanks ladies for your comments. I think my story will be known next week. It was hell trying to get an MRI, so i bet a PET scan will mean I will have to yell for it.

    I hate this waiting, we are calm but anything can throw me off balance.. 

    BTW

    what does hemangioma mean... lol

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  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited December 2009

    Helen Jackie, this indicates a benign finding I think!!!

     My thoughts are with you and good luck for benign findings:)

    Tricia xx

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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited December 2009

    Hello

    Well I am breathing again. The mri showed 6  of those hemonagionas... so nothing to worry about. They also saw a bump in the adrenal gland and they said it was fine. I am so happy i pushed to have the MRI and not the CT scan. In Canada we can get both , but they always try to keep the mri free for other serious cases..

    So next week i have a 6 month breast mri  so hope too that it will all be fine.

    thanks for thinking of me

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  • Reddish1969
    Reddish1969 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    Oh, hooray!! I like good news. SO GLAD. Be well. xo

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  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited December 2009

    Great news Helen-Jackie and I'm spo pleased for you:)

    Tricia x

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  • Helen-Jackie
    Helen-Jackie Member Posts: 85
    edited December 2009

    thank you , thank you, its amazing how one can breathe again

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