Author Topic: MRI time after radiation  (Read 2840 times)

tichinose

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MRI time after radiation
« on: July 01, 2010, 05:59:57 pm »
My doctor told me the would do an mri 6 months after 26 days of radiation.  I met a woman who went same place for radiation and learned she gets mri one month later?  Why the discrepancy?  Anyone else finish radiation?

Jim Scott

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Re: MRI time after radiation
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2010, 01:15:17 pm »
Hi ~

Doctors have their own approach to ordering post-radiation MRI scans.  The MRI scan is very expensive and some medical insurance companies balk at a doctor ordering 'too many' for one patient in a relatively short time-frame.  I underwent 3 MRI scans within 2 years of my FSR.  The first was six months following the procedure.  The next six months after that and the third a year later.  That seemed sufficient to me and no problems were found on any of the scans.  I'm sure your doctor is doing what he considers the best for you but if you're concerned, you might ask him if you need an MRI sooner than he has stated, but I think you can already guess what his answer would be.

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

mk

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Re: MRI time after radiation
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2010, 04:59:14 pm »
The typical time frame post radiation is 6 months. Doctors may order an MRI sooner than that if they are worried about swelling, depending on the tumor size/location etc, or if the patient is experiencing symptoms. I got an MRI at 3 months post-GK (although initially I was told that I won't need one until 6 months and I wasn't experiencing any side effects) because the doctor just wanted to "make sure" given the size of my AN. So it can be very patient specific - with the costs involved as Jim indicated, they will order an MRI only if they feel it is necessary.

Marianna
GK on April 23rd 2008 for 2.9 cm AN at Toronto Western Hospital. Subsequent MRIs showed darkening initially, then growth. Retrosigmoid surgery on April 26th, 2011 with Drs. Akagami and Westerberg at Vancouver General Hospital. Graduallly lost hearing after GK and now SSD but no other issues.

lholl36233

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Re: MRI time after radiation
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2010, 09:08:46 am »
I had proton radiation.  With this type of radiation, they don't do a follow up MRI for 1 year.  The next one after that is 18 months.  I'll have my 1 year in December so I will have gone from 08/09 to 12/10 without an MRI.  Feels like a vacation...

Laura
Proton Radiation for my hemangioma at MGH December 2009.  Hearing has improved.  Doing great!

MLB57

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Re: MRI time after radiation
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2010, 08:50:29 pm »
I had a 1 cm rt AN (surgery--retrosigmoid Jan 2001 UMASSMed Ctr/Worc, MA)
Residual left--continued growing--Didn't want surgery again so chose radiation-- finished 30 FSR w/Dr Loeffler (Mass Gen/Boston MA) on Oct 22 2007... Had first MRI after radiation 1 year later then second at 18 months --next MRI 2012 (2 years from now).  ;D

I'm sure your specialist has hi/hers timeframe as well...

Best wishes,

Mary (aka GrammyMary aka "Mimi")...
1 cm rt AN (retrosigmoid Jan 2001 UMASSMed Ctr/Worc, MA)
Residual left--continued growing--finished 30 FSR w/Dr Loeffler (Mass Gen/Boston MA) on Oct 22 2007... --April 2010--tumor shrank to 8mm and is a dark spot!!  Latest Update: April May 2017 scan shows no change!--Next MRI 2020!!  Life is good!!

Vivian B.

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Re: MRI time after radiation
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2010, 07:45:36 am »
I just had gammaknife on June 30/2010 and my MRI is in 6 months. I do have a consultation appt. on Sep 29/2010. I guess if I am having symptoms they may order one earlier. Every doctor and clinic is probably different although 6 months seems to be a good time frame as it takes a while for radiation to start taking effect in any case and they probably don't expect a lot of change prior to the 6 months.

Vivian
CPA AN(most likely meningioma) 1.6cm by 1.5cm by 1.9cm diagnosed early March 09. Watch and Wait.