Mri, Ct Or Ultrasound

Does anyone know which scan would give the best diagnosis of my neck lump?

(link to lump pic) [IMG]http://i28.tinypic.com/2epuk8x.jpg [/IMG]

I have scoured the internet, but can find nothing that actually explains which is the best test/scan to have done.

Thankyou

Jen

I'm no doctor, but I can tell you what was done for me. I had a similar lump, but mine was more underneath the jaw. When I first noticed it you couldn't see it, only feel it.  I went to the doctor and was told it was probably an infection. After a month of ineffective treatment, it grew to the point where you could look at me and see it. That's when they started talking cancer or branchial cleft cyst. Frankly, the pictures I've seen of cysts, look a lot like yours.

Anyway, I think the only way you can tell for sure is needle biopsy. I had a CT first, then a ultrasound guided needle biopsy. Turns out I had a baseball size, swollen lymph node and SCC.

I'd get it checked out ASAP.

Tom

Hi Jen, 

They usually call for a CT first although some doctors feel that an MRI is better. If they think it might be cancerous they will follow up with a PET/CT. I personally don't have 100% faith in the PET (it didn't light up for my 4 involved lymph nodes when they were clearly necrotic on the CT) but they will show very active cancers or distant metastasis. Ultrasounds are usually used to guide needle biopsies.  Whatever they use, get it done soon.

Good Luck!

Joe 

On 2/1/2008 ThreePutt wrote:

I'm no doctor, but I can tell you what was done for me. I had a similar lump, but mine was more underneath the jaw. When I first noticed it you couldn't see it, only feel it.  I went to the doctor and was told it was probably an infection. After a month of ineffective treatment, it grew to the point where you could look at me and see it. That's when they started talking cancer or branchial cleft cyst. Frankly, the pictures I've seen of cysts, look a lot like yours.

Anyway, I think the only way you can tell for sure is needle biopsy. I had a CT first, then a ultrasound guided needle biopsy. Turns out I had a baseball size, swollen lymph node and SCC.

I'd get it checked out ASAP.

Tom

Just some info.  My husband had a needle biopsy and was told it was negative for cancer.  Then when they removed the cysts, he was told he had SCC.  

 We were told that needle biopsies are different than tissue biopsies.  Needle biopsies recover fluid in the cyst and it is possible that there is no cancer in the fluid - hence the diagnosis of negative for cancer.  BUT, when they cysts were removed, the SCC was in the LINING of the cyst.  That was quite a shock.

Thanks all for your replies & advice.

It seems that not everyone has an MRI as a first step to diagnosis.

I have the MRI booked for 2 days time! I am really nervous & can 99% say I will not last in the tunnel with my head & neck secured etc.... I panic in the dentist chair so will not be able to cope.

 I can however ask my GP to change it for either a CT or Ultrasound as I am seeing him tomorrow (the day before). But I really need to be sure that a CT would be as good for diagnosis.

Help... does anyone know for sure which is the best scan to have.

Jen

Any doctors, nurses or  experts on scans here?

Have to decide by morning if I should cancel mri & ask gp for ct scan instead.

But, need to know which is the best choice to make for the best diagnosis of my lump

Does anyone know?

Jen

Jen:

My husband had a similar lump.  He progressed from sonogram to needle biopsy to ct scan to mri.  Nothing diagnosed it accept the surgical biopsy.  Everyone's comments here are valid for that reason. 

I will say that the MRI was inconclusive and the reason for the surgical biopsy.  So, perhaps that would be best?  I'm not a doc so can't really say.  PET scan also confirmed it hadn't traveled but they would order this until it was confirmed he had cancer.  Probably some insurance #$%#$%. 

Best of luck to you.

Well, I never went through with the mri...too scared of being enclosed etc... would have panicked I am sure.

So am now booked for an Ultrasound on Weds this week.

Have really just prolonged my worry etc & depending on what this shows may neeed the mri after!

Could kick myself fro being such a coward...as maybe it would ahev showed a lot more & been better for diagnosis.

Everywhere should invest in the newer open scanners as more of us would be ale to go through with it with the the added worry of going into the enclosed space.