Brain MRI

rnayriv
rnayriv Member Posts: 38 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1
I'm 5 months post op from a partial nephrectomy. I'm considered stage 1 but I've been having some new symptoms so my primary doctor is sending me for a MRI of my brain. I'm a little nervous but I'm used to all the doctors always saying I'm fine so I just figure it's nothing. Does the MRI of the brain include the whole skull and upper part of neck. Reason for asking is that I've had a swollen tonsil for many months and that is not normal for me. I'm hoping it shows up on the MRI so I can have peace of mind that it's nothing to worry about.

Comments

  • MedScanMan
    MedScanMan Member Posts: 107
    #2
    Brain MRI
    Sorry to say it will not. An MRI of the brain is just that, the Brain. It begins at the bottom of the head where the brain stem is and scans up to the top of the brain. You'll probably have five sequences. Each taking about 6 minutes. If it's ordered with and without contrast, then after these 5 are done, the technologist will bring you out of the scanner, give you a quick injection and put you back in for about 12 minutes (2 sequences). If you were to have an MRI of your neck and throat it would be called an MRI of the NECK.....not to be confused with an MRI of the Cervical Spine. If you've got swollen tonsils your doctor can see that by just looking. Good luck with the Brain Scan. Let me know if I can help make sense of the impression for you.

    Jeff
  • rnayriv
    rnayriv Member Posts: 38 Member
    #3
    MedScanMan said:

    Brain MRI
    Sorry to say it will not. An MRI of the brain is just that, the Brain. It begins at the bottom of the head where the brain stem is and scans up to the top of the brain. You'll probably have five sequences. Each taking about 6 minutes. If it's ordered with and without contrast, then after these 5 are done, the technologist will bring you out of the scanner, give you a quick injection and put you back in for about 12 minutes (2 sequences). If you were to have an MRI of your neck and throat it would be called an MRI of the NECK.....not to be confused with an MRI of the Cervical Spine. If you've got swollen tonsils your doctor can see that by just looking. Good luck with the Brain Scan. Let me know if I can help make sense of the impression for you.

    Jeff

    Thank you for your reply. I
    Thank you for your reply. I was just curious. I'v been referred to a ENT doctor so I will deal with the tonsil thing when I see him. I'm just very thankful that my primary doctor is looking into the other symptoms.
  • rnayriv
    rnayriv Member Posts: 38 Member
    #4
    Help with making sense of report please.

    Brain MRI

    final impression
    1. No evidence of abnormally enhancing brain mass to suggest metastasis

    2. Empty sella phenomenon is suspected. Clinical correlation would be of confiratory value

    Is this something to worry about. Havent talked to the doctor yet because she's been out of her office. I got a copy of my report from the hospital.

    I also have some questions about my abdominal ultrasound I had if you could help me out with that too.

    My final impression for that says

    1. 8mm common bile duct

    2. Heterogeneous testure of the upper and mid aspect of left kidney

    3. There is a soft tissue density similar to echogenicity of the spleen in the left upper quadrant thought to be an accessory spleen

    My partial Nephrectomy was in my upper left kidney so just wondering if this is just from the surgery or is there something I need these doctors to take another look at.
  • rnayriv
    rnayriv Member Posts: 38 Member
    #5
    MedScanMan said:

    Brain MRI
    Sorry to say it will not. An MRI of the brain is just that, the Brain. It begins at the bottom of the head where the brain stem is and scans up to the top of the brain. You'll probably have five sequences. Each taking about 6 minutes. If it's ordered with and without contrast, then after these 5 are done, the technologist will bring you out of the scanner, give you a quick injection and put you back in for about 12 minutes (2 sequences). If you were to have an MRI of your neck and throat it would be called an MRI of the NECK.....not to be confused with an MRI of the Cervical Spine. If you've got swollen tonsils your doctor can see that by just looking. Good luck with the Brain Scan. Let me know if I can help make sense of the impression for you.

    Jeff
  • MedScanMan
    MedScanMan Member Posts: 107
    #6
    rnayriv said:

    Help with making sense of report please.

    Brain MRI

    final impression
    1. No evidence of abnormally enhancing brain mass to suggest metastasis

    2. Empty sella phenomenon is suspected. Clinical correlation would be of confiratory value

    Is this something to worry about. Havent talked to the doctor yet because she's been out of her office. I got a copy of my report from the hospital.

    I also have some questions about my abdominal ultrasound I had if you could help me out with that too.

    My final impression for that says

    1. 8mm common bile duct

    2. Heterogeneous testure of the upper and mid aspect of left kidney

    3. There is a soft tissue density similar to echogenicity of the spleen in the left upper quadrant thought to be an accessory spleen

    My partial Nephrectomy was in my upper left kidney so just wondering if this is just from the surgery or is there something I need these doctors to take another look at.

    I'll do my best for you
    1. No evidence of abnormally enhancing brain mass to suggest metastasis
    This is great news.....Neg for Mets.

    2. Empty sella phenomenon is suspected. Clinical correlation would be of confiratory value

    The sella tursica is the area where the pituitary gland sits. The radiologist is simply stating that he cannot see your pituitary gland. It doesn't mean it's not there, but the follow up to this would be another MRI of the pituitary. The scanner would do much thinner cuts and probably see it. Anything medically significant here I could not comment on. That's for your doctor.

    I also have some questions about my abdominal ultrasound I had if you could help me out with that too.

    My final impression for that says

    1. 8mm common bile duct
    This is just a measurement of the common bile duct. 8mm is a little dilated. This is why it's mentioned. You have a hepatic duct from the liver and a cystic duct from the gall bladder coming together at the common bile duct. These are all for drainage. No mention of stones in the report so I'd wait for your doctor to say if he feels at your age 8mm is nothing to worry about. That would be my guess.


    2. Heterogeneous texture of the upper and mid aspect of left kidney
    Since your partial nephrectomy was the upper pole of the left kidney, my guess is he's looking at the scarring from the surgery. It just means that that area is not uniform in texture to the rest of the normal kidney left behind. You would not expect it to be.


    3. There is a soft tissue density similar to echogenicity of the spleen in the left upper quadrant thought to be an accessory spleen

    Many people have (usually above the spleen) rounded tissue resembling a miniature spleen. If this soft tissue density is in fact an accessory spleen, then that's fine. You were born with it. I've seen hundreds. A CT scan would let you know for sure if that's what it is.

    From what I see here....things are pretty good. I hope your doctor agrees.

    Jeff
  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    #7
    MedScanMan said:

    I'll do my best for you
    1. No evidence of abnormally enhancing brain mass to suggest metastasis
    This is great news.....Neg for Mets.

    2. Empty sella phenomenon is suspected. Clinical correlation would be of confiratory value

    The sella tursica is the area where the pituitary gland sits. The radiologist is simply stating that he cannot see your pituitary gland. It doesn't mean it's not there, but the follow up to this would be another MRI of the pituitary. The scanner would do much thinner cuts and probably see it. Anything medically significant here I could not comment on. That's for your doctor.

    I also have some questions about my abdominal ultrasound I had if you could help me out with that too.

    My final impression for that says

    1. 8mm common bile duct
    This is just a measurement of the common bile duct. 8mm is a little dilated. This is why it's mentioned. You have a hepatic duct from the liver and a cystic duct from the gall bladder coming together at the common bile duct. These are all for drainage. No mention of stones in the report so I'd wait for your doctor to say if he feels at your age 8mm is nothing to worry about. That would be my guess.


    2. Heterogeneous texture of the upper and mid aspect of left kidney
    Since your partial nephrectomy was the upper pole of the left kidney, my guess is he's looking at the scarring from the surgery. It just means that that area is not uniform in texture to the rest of the normal kidney left behind. You would not expect it to be.


    3. There is a soft tissue density similar to echogenicity of the spleen in the left upper quadrant thought to be an accessory spleen

    Many people have (usually above the spleen) rounded tissue resembling a miniature spleen. If this soft tissue density is in fact an accessory spleen, then that's fine. You were born with it. I've seen hundreds. A CT scan would let you know for sure if that's what it is.

    From what I see here....things are pretty good. I hope your doctor agrees.

    Jeff

    Doing your best. . .
    Jeff,

    I know I've said it before, but let me say it again. You're a great asset on this Board; glad you're here.
  • MedScanMan
    MedScanMan Member Posts: 107
    #8
    alice124 said:

    Doing your best. . .
    Jeff,

    I know I've said it before, but let me say it again. You're a great asset on this Board; glad you're here.

    Alice
    : )
  • rnayriv
    rnayriv Member Posts: 38 Member
    #9
    MedScanMan said:

    I'll do my best for you
    1. No evidence of abnormally enhancing brain mass to suggest metastasis
    This is great news.....Neg for Mets.

    2. Empty sella phenomenon is suspected. Clinical correlation would be of confiratory value

    The sella tursica is the area where the pituitary gland sits. The radiologist is simply stating that he cannot see your pituitary gland. It doesn't mean it's not there, but the follow up to this would be another MRI of the pituitary. The scanner would do much thinner cuts and probably see it. Anything medically significant here I could not comment on. That's for your doctor.

    I also have some questions about my abdominal ultrasound I had if you could help me out with that too.

    My final impression for that says

    1. 8mm common bile duct
    This is just a measurement of the common bile duct. 8mm is a little dilated. This is why it's mentioned. You have a hepatic duct from the liver and a cystic duct from the gall bladder coming together at the common bile duct. These are all for drainage. No mention of stones in the report so I'd wait for your doctor to say if he feels at your age 8mm is nothing to worry about. That would be my guess.


    2. Heterogeneous texture of the upper and mid aspect of left kidney
    Since your partial nephrectomy was the upper pole of the left kidney, my guess is he's looking at the scarring from the surgery. It just means that that area is not uniform in texture to the rest of the normal kidney left behind. You would not expect it to be.


    3. There is a soft tissue density similar to echogenicity of the spleen in the left upper quadrant thought to be an accessory spleen

    Many people have (usually above the spleen) rounded tissue resembling a miniature spleen. If this soft tissue density is in fact an accessory spleen, then that's fine. You were born with it. I've seen hundreds. A CT scan would let you know for sure if that's what it is.

    From what I see here....things are pretty good. I hope your doctor agrees.

    Jeff

    Thank you
    Thank you Jeff. I truly appreciate your help with this.
  • rnayriv
    rnayriv Member Posts: 38 Member
    #10
    alice124 said:

    Doing your best. . .
    Jeff,

    I know I've said it before, but let me say it again. You're a great asset on this Board; glad you're here.

    I agree
    I agree with you Alice. I'm new here and so glad Jeff was able to help with my report. I wasn't really nervous about it but still it's nice to have someone here that knows what the report is saying. I might have to wait days to speak to my doctor. At least now I wont be dwelling on it.
  • MedScanMan
    MedScanMan Member Posts: 107
    #11
    rnayriv said:

    Thank you
    Thank you Jeff. I truly appreciate your help with this.

    You're Welcome
    Hoping your doctor’s appointment goes well. Let us hear.

    Jeff

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