ANA Discussion Forum

General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: PhilippinaJane on September 05, 2012, 01:39:27 pm

Title: Does everyone get a yearly MRI?
Post by: PhilippinaJane on September 05, 2012, 01:39:27 pm
They discovered my AN in 2009 and I decided to go with Gamma Knife. I know that the doctor had informed that this form of tumor is sometimes inherited. I have the same issues with balance, hearing, the sudden pain where the tumor sits( not often), and feeling lethargic especially when I haven't gotten enough sleep. Anyways, Does everyone get a yearly MRI? I was avoiding contacting my Neurosurgeon so to my surprise my Neurosurgeons office contacted me. Don't get me wrong I'm happy they called me but I hate having to go in for the MRI. I'm allergic to the dye they inject into me, they give me something to prevent me from reacting. Should I be concern considering my body is already saying it does not like that dye. What side effects in the long run will that cause?

Thanks
Title: Re: Does everyone get a yearly MRI?
Post by: PaulW on September 05, 2012, 04:37:27 pm
If you are post Gamma Knife most people get 6 monthly or yearly MRI's.
Some new MRI machines can show the size of the tumour without the dye.

The images however are not as clear and do not show changes within the AN very well at all.
Talk with your specialist they maybe happy without the dye.
My local ENT was happy just to monitor growth without the dye.
My CK team want the dye to see the changes within the AN..
Title: Re: Does everyone get a yearly MRI?
Post by: mojwri54 on September 05, 2012, 05:51:53 pm
I had surgery this November 4 years ago and radiation little over a year ago I am now on every 6 months again MRI just had one in August which showed no significant change.  So if Feb 2013 is at least the same we should be able to go to once a year.  I was sort disappointed not to be able to go to the year yet but I rather them to keep a good check on it, since it started growing the part of my large tumor they could not move during the opertation.