ANA Discussion Forum

General Category => Inquiries => Topic started by: kjmema on November 30, 2006, 10:20:13 pm

Title: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: kjmema on November 30, 2006, 10:20:13 pm
My sister has been doing research for me and said something about getting a PET scan.  I looked it up on line and see it is a  type of scan where they inject radioactive material.  Has anyone had this and is it necessary for AN diagnostic clarification?  K.
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: Obita on December 01, 2006, 06:32:18 am
I have not heard of anyone getting a PET scan for an AN. 

It will be interesting to hear what others know about this............
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: HeadCase2 on December 01, 2006, 07:39:25 am
  The accepted test for diagnosing Acoustic Neuroma is an MRI with contrast. The An tumor stands out quite readily, once the contrast has been injected, as a glowing white mass.  Search for MRI on this forum and you can see a few MRI's with An that people have posted.
Regards,
 Rob
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: ppearl214 on December 06, 2006, 10:27:16 am
Hi Karen,

I've had a PET Scan for another medical ailment..... as Headcase has noted, MRI with contrast is the preferred method of radiology for AN's.  PET scans, from my understanding, would not be as effective in looking at the AN.  Hope that helps.

Phyl
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: Dealy on December 06, 2006, 11:30:03 am
Do not know why you would be opting or looking at a PET scan when MRI has been proving the effective tool for finding an AN. The only thing that excludes an MRI if you have some sort of metal in your head from prior surgery etc. Then the next best is a CAT scan. Ron
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: nancyann on December 06, 2006, 11:44:02 am
I've got titanium in place of bone they took out for AN surgery.  My neurosurgeon said titanium doesn't interfere with MRI's (I had 1 MRI 1 day post op & no problem) or airport metal detectors (haven't checked this one out yet, can't wait to see what happens!!)

Nancy
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: Dealy on December 06, 2006, 12:09:26 pm
Nancy_Ann. I had logged off computer at work to have my lunch when I saw your post about MRI's. I hope I am not a source of misinformation to people. I was always told that any metal forbids use of an MRI. I am in contact with another NF2 who got a Cochlear Implant in one ear-and she can no longer have MRI's. However she had FSR in bith ears 5 and 6 years ago and both show they are in their death throes. In other words their dead-her ANs._Both of them. Anyway she can not have anymore MRI's but can have CAT scans. Ron. This is off the subject of the original post-but I just do not want to post misinformation. I think sometimes we can enough of that from some doctors you have too deal with. Ron
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: nancyann on December 06, 2006, 12:16:03 pm
Hi Ron: I always thought any metal in head & MRIs are a no-no also, but who knew about titanium?
I was so in the dark re: AN surgery (only recently got a computer, didn't know about this site till after surgery, unfortunately for me).
I didn't even know they put titanium in place of bone till I got a copy of my surgery report,  that's when I asked the doctor about it & he said titanium is MRI & metal detector friendly - he was right re: the MRI 'cause my head didn't hit the ceiling with the post-op one (thank God);  I've yet to try it at airports!!!
Best regards, Nancy
PS  Misinformation is my middle name!!!!
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: HeadCase2 on December 06, 2006, 01:19:46 pm
 Titanium is not a problem for either MRI or CAT scans.  Any metal containing Fe (Iron) would be a problem for MRI, because it uses very strong magnetic fields. 
Regards,
 Rob
Title: Re: Has anyone had a PET scan
Post by: nancyann on December 07, 2006, 07:22:23 am
AHAAAA!!!!!!(You guys are so smart, I love it!!)

So, does that mean I can wear my gold tiara next time I have an MRI??  lol