Got a call from my physicians office

[EJTampa]

As you know, my surgery is this coming Thursday.  Well yesterday the physicians office called and said that the Dr. now wants a CAT scan before surgery!  I asked him, and his assistant, at different times, if the MRI from September was good enough.  Both assured me that there was no need for further scans because these grow so slowly.
 
I had an appointment last week with the neurosurgeon.  I asked him the same thing and got the same answer.  I gave him the disk with my MRI images.  I have to assume that he saw something on there that concerned him since that's the last appointment I had and all of a sudden there is a need for a CAT scan.
 
Well, I'll find out Monday when I call the office I guess.  I'll keep you all posted.
 
Ernie

[sgerrard]

Ernie,

I had a CAT scan and an MRI the day before my first CK treatment. As I understand it, the CAT scan, which is a fancy form of an X-Ray, is more accurate for showing shapes, dimensions, and such. It is really just like a photograph, only made with x-rays instead of light. The MRI images are always reconstructed from piles of computer data, and while they are obviously useful for identifying things likes ANs, they can distort shape, form, and dimension somewhat.

They probably just want to get a good image of the tumor, to check things like how close it is to this or that nerve, blood vessel, and the brainstem. I doubt it is anything to worry about.

Steve

[Jim Scott]

Ernie:

As Steve indicated, I wouldn't be too concerned.  My neurosurgeon ordered an MRI two days prior to my surgery, even though my 'original' MRI scan was only a month old.  He explained that he didn't want any 'surprises' when he operated.  I guess he didn't find any because the surgery was very successful with no real complications.  I think your doctor is just being cautious, which is a good thing.

Jim

[Jwh]

Same here - had my MRI done 6 days before my surgery.  I'm sure your o.k. - I think it's pretty typical.

Jen

[moe]

I agree. No need to worry, just being extra cautious. I wish they had done a second MRI prior to my AN removal. My case was crazy. My husband was stationed in Bremerton, WA, and I was still at home (2 year thing) with the 3 teens, waiting for kid to finish high school, and one just started college. Had the MRI  in TX, in March 06. Brought the MRI with me to WA. Surgery was June 06 in WA at Madigan Army Med Ctr. They used my MRI which was 3 months old! Will keep you in prayer for a safe surgery, and will love to help with post op issues, if any.
Maureen

[EJTampa]

Thanks for all the replies.  I'm sure you're right, but I'm still going to wonder until I find out for sure .
 
Ernie

[Dan]

Ernie,
I had a CAT scan before surgery and then 24 hrs after surgery, the Dr said so that he can compare before and after.  He said the after they don't do all the time unless they think there may be a problem.  I had no problems and don't remember much about the scan after surgery.  I wouldn't worry.

Dan in Germany   

[MAlegant]

Hi Ernie,
I had an MRI two days before surgery.  They used it to "map" exactly where they needed to be.   No worries, I think it's completely normal and best practice.
M

[wendysig]

Ernie,

I had a CT scan before my surgery too.  My doc said it shows the fine boney anatomy  needed for surgical planning since MRIs don't show this very well.  Just thought this might give you somemore insight.

Wendy

[jazzfunkanne]

this is procedure in scotland, i got a ct scan a few days before my surgery, he said it gives them a better view of whats going on, so it really would make sense to get this done. they could see my AN had grown slightly in 8 months.

[Keri]

Hi,
I'm going to sound like others. I had a MRI right before my surgery. In fact, they had to shave off more of my hair, not for the surgery itself, but so they could connect the MRI leads.
After surgery, I had a CT and MRI. Then in the middle of the night (when the macihines were available for in patients) for the next 2 or 3 nights I had either an MRI or CT scan. A resident saw something and thought I had a blood clot, but my neurosurgeon said it was nothing. I think they were 'erring' on the side of caution, which is much better than ignorance! I think I had 8 total MRI / CT's in my 6 day stay in the hospital. Glad I"m not claustrophobic in those tubes. I've never opened my eyes in one of them. They were very cold in the middle of the night. Oh well, glad it's over!

Keri

[EJTampa]

Well, I called and scheduled my appointment for the CAT scan.  They don't know wny it was ordered, since they only have the instruction to schedule it.
 
It turns out they have their own CAT machine, so I can have it done just before my pre-op - same day.  At least it's not an added inconvenience to me now.
 
I'm thinking its a money thing.  They run it through the insurance, insurance says yes, we'll cover that, so it's scheduled.  Alll that money stays with them since they own the machine. /shrug
 
Maybe it's just that I'm making myself believe it's a money thing so I won't worry that they found something else!
 
Ernie

[TP]

I had a CT before and after my surgery. The one I had after my surgery was not very nice. It was the day after my surgery and as they rolled me (kinda rough) into the elevator and up to the xray room I threw up all over myself and people were just walking bye like nothing was wrong. I was so embarrassed.

[MAlegant]

I had an MRI after surgery and it was probably more traumatic than the surgery, or it least it seemed so at the time.  I was in pain and couldn't imagine moving an inch let alone from the gurney to the MRI machine.  Ugh.  Glad they did it though, cause it showed the tumor completely gone which was a good thing.