is MRI enough to detect tumors in the neck or base of tongue?

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nino5
nino5 Member Posts: 29
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I had a MRI of the neck yesterday.  Can someone tell me if this is enough to detect tumors in the neck o base of tongue? 

Thank you! !

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  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #2
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    looking around

    nino5,

    Is that what your doctor is looking for?  Your doctor should know what he or she is doing.  Trust them?

    Generally, a PET scan is used to show ALL areas of activity.

    If you have a tumor at bot then a scope could probably see it.  In a perfect world, you need something to biopsy for diagnosis.

    Matt

  • nino5
    nino5 Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2016 #3
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    Thank you matt

    I just had a MRI and CT scan to find what's going on . I have an appointment next week to see my results with my doctor.  T

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #4
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    Yes

    Those were used for identifying tumors for my husband followed by biopsies.  The PET did not happen until we met with the oncologist.

  • nino5
    nino5 Member Posts: 29
    #5
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    Noellesmom said:

    Yes

    Those were used for identifying tumors for my husband followed by biopsies.  The PET did not happen until we met with the oncologist.

    Thank you

    Thank you for your answer! 

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #6
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    Yes

    Yes, the MRI can see something pressing on a nerve which I have seen that done on me. 

    Again you need to step back and Breathe. If the doctor believed you had any type of tumor, I think he would use the scope and look at the BOT. Much less money. He is doing the MRI to see what might be causing you the problems. Just my opinion.

    Bill

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    edited July 2016 #7
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    Yes...normally, until cancer is

    detected...either by a biopsy or a CT....a PET scan is not ordered.  Once they KNOW you have cancer, the PET allows them to see the tumors and the activity level in them.

    p

  • nino5
    nino5 Member Posts: 29
    #8
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    Thank you

    Thank you matt, Bill and P you are wonderful people.  God bless you! !

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #9
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    nino5 said:

    Thank you

    Thank you matt, Bill and P you are wonderful people.  God bless you! !

    Have you seen an ENT?

    Our family doctor ordered the MRI.

  • nino5
    nino5 Member Posts: 29
    #10
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    Noellesmom said:

    Have you seen an ENT?

    Our family doctor ordered the MRI.

    yes

    My ENT doctor ordered it 

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #11
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    Then

    The decision for a scope and biopsy will come after MRI results.

    Lifting prayers for peace while you are waiting for your results.

    Waiting with you.

  • nino5
    nino5 Member Posts: 29
    #12
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    Noellesmom said:

    Then

    The decision for a scope and biopsy will come after MRI results.

    Lifting prayers for peace while you are waiting for your results.

    Waiting with you.

    what's a scope?

    What kind procedure is a scope? Thank you 

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #13
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    The scope is a long

    flexible tube with a light and a telescope on the end (all very tiny).  The Dr. puts it up our nose and it goes down your throat.  He can see what's going on down there.

    p

  • nino5
    nino5 Member Posts: 29
    edited July 2016 #14
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    phrannie51 said:

    The scope is a long

    flexible tube with a light and a telescope on the end (all very tiny).  The Dr. puts it up our nose and it goes down your throat.  He can see what's going on down there.

    p

    Thank you P

    Is a scope painful? ?

    Thank you 

  • Bill_Litchfield
    Bill_Litchfield Member Posts: 19
    edited July 2016 #15
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    nino5 said:

    Thank you P

    Is a scope painful? ?

    Thank you 

    Scope

    Nino, being scoped is uncomfortable but not painful. They spray you with xylocaine in the mouth and nostrils to deaden things and coat the tube with stuff. You should have no problems with it.

  • nino5
    nino5 Member Posts: 29
    #16
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    Thank you

    Thank you bill Litchfield

  • Tribes
    Tribes Member Posts: 4
    #17
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    Biopsy for BOT 15mm mass positive for Squamous cell

    Hi folks, brand new to this group. 12 days ago was scoped and the mass was found. Surgery to remote it and biopsy done. Was told that I had stage 1, ordered a whole body PET scan with additional head and neck and set up an appointment for this Friday with a radiation oncologist. I had the PET scan yesterday and picked up the CD and report a few hours ago. Negative. No activity anywhere. BOT negative for any abnormal metabolic activity. Is that possible? Anyone know what that means?

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #18
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    Tribes said:

    Biopsy for BOT 15mm mass positive for Squamous cell

    Hi folks, brand new to this group. 12 days ago was scoped and the mass was found. Surgery to remote it and biopsy done. Was told that I had stage 1, ordered a whole body PET scan with additional head and neck and set up an appointment for this Friday with a radiation oncologist. I had the PET scan yesterday and picked up the CD and report a few hours ago. Negative. No activity anywhere. BOT negative for any abnormal metabolic activity. Is that possible? Anyone know what that means?

    welcome

    Tribes,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, sorry that you are here, but you sound pretty good.

    You are stage 1, so I believe they found cancer and you had surgery to remove it.  Since then you had a PET and it turned up no additional areas of activity.  It is possible that they removed all the cancer, it does happen.

    Now, they (YOU) will decide if treatments beyond surgery is warranted.  Being that it was stage 1, they might recommend a wait and see approach.  They will keep very close tabs on you for a period of time until you are clear of more cancer.

    Or they might suggest more, to be  sure.

    A wait and see approach is certainly a good choice.

    To get a bigger response you may want to start a new thread.

    Matt

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