MRI VS CT SCAN

Marion, Thank you for filling in my gaps with hard info on CTs, MRIs and PET scans. It is very true, that the person reading the scans and their abilities make all the difference in the reliability of the scan results. I might add to that…..that the computer monitor used to view the results also makes a big difference. My Onc said that with his screen in the exam room, he could see the CT results fairly well, but the MRI results were harder to read, even though it was a well-done test and had “good slices”. That was purely due to the quality of the monitor image. He said that the radiologist who actually read the results and do the reports have a different monitor. That said…he always re-reads the scans himself to double check the results…looking for anything that might have been missed.

Daisy,

I have been getting CT scans with contrast this first year following surgery, except for one time when my onc forgot to give me a steroid to take in advance (I had a potential allergic reaction previously, so the steroid was to hopefully keep me from having a full blown reaction). That time, they did a MRI with contrast instead. However, in Nov, I had another possible reaction…chest tightening pretty badly….so last Friday, when I went for the CT with contrast (having taken the two steroid pills), the radiologist did not want to do the CT with contrast even WITH the steroids as he was concerned about a bigger reaction. After consulting back and forth, the radiologist and oncologist decided to do a CT without contrast of my chest to view my lungs and then do an MRI with contrast of my pelvis and abdomen.

According to what I understood….the MRI with contrast is a better picture, assuming that the person being scanned lies perfectly still, holds their breath well for timed periods and breathes fairly normally. It is a longer test by far than a CT scan and for those who get anxiety in a very enclosed space, it can be difficult to get through. That said, when I was in the MRI scanner this time, I was in feet first with my head out of the tube, or within a small distance of the opening of the tube, so it was nice to be only a part of the way into the tube and not so closed in. Note, if you ever need to do an MRI….just close your eyes before going into the tube and keep them closed and it will reduce your anxiety levels.

The oncologist also indicated that the CT with contrast was an easier to read image for most, but the MR with contrastI was a better image if done well. I didn’t really understand just why they didn’t do the chest part of my scans also in the MRI instead of doing a separate CT without contrast, but that is what is now planned for all subsequent followups scans.

My scans are limited to the three areas, pelvic, abdomen and chest because those are the areas where the CC is most like to show up if it returns. In reality, the major area for me would be in and around the liver since my tumor was still in the liver and hadn’t spread when it was removed. But, since CC can do the unexpected, my oncologist is more comfortable seeing the lungs as well.

As for all of the above, it comes down a lot to the discretion of the oncologist ….what they prefer. I would love to dump the CT entirely because of the increase of radiation exposure that comes along with the CT and not with an MRI.

MRIs are generally more costly than CTs.