MRI - small hot spot - concern about mets

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beau
beau Member Posts: 374
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

HI All,

 After months of jaw pain that I felt sure (and still do) is TMJ (short for jaw trouble like arthritis), I was scheduled for contrast MRI which came back with tiny lesion that lit up. Now they want to do a body scan to rule out mets. I have seen posts about folks getting body scans and then getting MRI for more definitive diagnosis, but I have not heard about it the other way around (ie MRI and then bodyscan) so I am concerned that it really is mets and now they are just trying to confirm how wide spread it is. Does anyone have experience with an contrast MRI that "lit up" for something other than mets? 

I hope you are enjoying your day, despite the roller coaster ride of this disease. I am certainly working on staying positive and few words from you all will surely help.

Best, Beau 

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  • GoldenEyes
    GoldenEyes Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2011

    It could be anything from infection. degenerative disc disease...arthritis.. etc etc.. Wait till you get the results...Try not to worry... Keeping you in our thoughts.. and please keep us posted..

    Donna

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited June 2011

    Beau, I just came across this thread, and just wanted to offer you encouragement. I've heard thatarthritis cannot be discerned from mets with scans alone (I think you would need a biopsy of anything suspiscious), and since you say TMJ is similar to arthritis, it makes sense that it would light up.  So hopefully your instinct is right and it is TMJ.  (Funny how bc makes arthritis or TMJ or some other degenerative condition seem like a blessing!)    Hoping for a B9 explanation!  Deanna

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  • beau
    beau Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2011

    HI Deanna and Donna,

     Thanks for the encouraging words! My scan is scheduled for the week of June 20th and I will float down the river denial until then with fingers and toes crossed. I will post back when I know what's what.

    Best, Beau 

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2011

    Beau, the TMJ is you Temporomandibular Joint.  I have acute arthritis in both joints and they light up like a christmas tree on all scans so in answer to your question.......yes, other things can light up on scan.   Hope all goes well for you.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • beau
    beau Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2011

    HI Chrissy,

     You made my day! thanks for info - I am hoping for acute arthritis - can you believe it? Best, Beau 

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  • beau
    beau Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2011

    Hi All,

    I am so glad to report that the bone scan came back clean - I am still NED! Many thanks for helping me hang in there and stay positive in this period of uncertainty.

    When I questioned the doctor to try to understand more, she said that the MRI "hot spot" was compared to the bonescan to determine if the hotspot was in the bone or in the surrounding tissue of the bone. Net, net, it is in the surrounding tissue so I have some inflammation going on but no mets. Never thought that I would be happy to hear that I have inflammation in my jaw (which is very painful) but in fact, happy I am. It is a strange world that we all inhabit. best, Beau 

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  • GoldenEyes
    GoldenEyes Member Posts: 180
    edited June 2011

    Great News Hon !.. Now go and have glass of wine..:)

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  • beau
    beau Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2011

    Hi all,

    Thanks again - my 52 nd birthday is this Friday and I plan to celebrate in style - no more waiting until the next "big one" like 60. As far as I am concerned everyone is a "big one" from here on out, wine and champagne included ! Best Beau

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  • gutsy
    gutsy Member Posts: 391
    edited June 2011

    Great news, I am so happy for you. Yep, celebrate in style and let yourself be spoiled.

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