Al - Brain mets on MRI
Al - you asked a question about reliability of these scans to indicate a brain met. What I found out when I asked that question is that brain mets have a distinct look - round in shape, with a regular smooth-looking surface. This is different from how a brain primary would look. Also, if the spot/s are really teeny tiny they will take followup MRI in one month or so to compare with the last to make sure this is what they have.
Most of us have some kind of other tiny spot in our brain area that is visible on a scan or MRI but is NOT cancer. I have one of those little nodules that just stays the same scan after scan - also one in my right lung.
Also, if the spot on the MRI also has some evidence of inflammation or fluid with it, you have another indicator.
Not to worry - these MRIs are very accurate!
Seems the times they have the most trouble is deciding if they are seeing DEAD tissue on followups of larger mets. So far not the case with my big one, but will have another MRI next week, so ...
|