I Am Really Worried... Should I Be?

I have tried to get information from the internet and I can't believe I am posting in a Cancer forum, I certainly hope that's not what it is.

I had an MRI of my back after surgery for a disc. They find a 3 cm cyst with a 1cm nodule. They recommend a CT scan to find out what it is. It is done with and without contrast. My family Doctor gets the report and can't tell me what it is?! He wants to schedule me to see a specialist because he still doesn't know? He said it is a lesion that he wants a specialist to look at. I thought that's what the CT scan was for?

Please tell me if I should be concerned.

Thanks,

Rob

 

On 4/30/2008 Rob58185 wrote:

I have tried to get information from the internet and I can't believe I am posting in a Cancer forum, I certainly hope that's not what it is.

I had an MRI of my back after surgery for a disc. They find a 3 cm cyst with a 1cm nodule. They recommend a CT scan to find out what it is. It is done with and without contrast. My family Doctor gets the report and can't tell me what it is?! He wants to schedule me to see a specialist because he still doesn't know? He said it is a lesion that he wants a specialist to look at. I thought that's what the CT scan was for?

Please tell me if I should be concerned.

Thanks,

Rob

Hi! Rob not until you have a diagnosis.

 

First, get a copy of the MRI scan report from your doctor; you may learn more from it.

It is always better to get a second opinion if there is any doubt about the diagnosis.  However, I agree that it is not time to worry until an expert doc says that you have a serious problem.

Absolutely, see the specialist. MRI's are very subjective, and your report was probably read by the radiologist who alone would not be able to make a diagnosis. What is confusing to me is an MRI can be done with and with out contrast, and yields better images than a CT. Usually they CT something first then do an MRI if more clairification is needed. The specialist should explain this to you better. After you see the specialist, consider a second opinion regardless of what their diagnosis might be. I would caution you from reading the report yourself and googling for clarification, that is a pandoras box and there are way to many variables out there that would not tell you much, only cause more panic. Remember that these reports are subjective. See the specialist. Keep calm and stay positive. Good luck.