Ultrasound & Xray

ldot123
ldot123 Member Posts: 272
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello everyone,

Just thinking about the effectiveness of Ultrasound and Xray as a diagnostic tool. Had an xray to the chest and ultrasound to the abdomen. Everything showed up fine, bloodwork good. The only questionable thing was an area on my liver that is thought to be fat. The size of the area has not changed in a year since the last ultrasound so my onc thinks it is OK and not cancer. I will be going for a cat scan in 4 months, then if that is clear, I will be on a 6 month check up routine. Question for you all - has anyone else had an ultrasound done instead of regular cat scans? My doctor does not like to do too many cat scans on me because of previous radiation treatment for another cancer 20 years ago (Hodgkins) I am not sure if I have seen anyone else on the board that has had ultrasound and plain chest xray for follow up.

Thanks, Lance

Comments

  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #2
    xray vs ultrasound vs CT scan vs MRI
    Hi,

    I know that CT scans do give a high volume of radiation, but it is definitely a better diagnostic test for the lungs than an xray is. I read somewhere that any spots in the lungs have to be at least 5 mm to show up on an xray. So, it could be possible that something under that size or just something not as dense could still be present in your lungs, but not show up at all on an xray.
    None of my doctors have ever mentioned having an ultrasound for checking me. My liver specialist says an MRI is the best tool for viewing the bowel area and the liver, but that an MRI is not very good for viewing the lungs. The plus with an MRI for areas other than the lungs, also, is that it doesn't give you any radiation- it uses sound waves. From what I've heard, I would think an MRI would be the way to go for you vs. an ultrasound for everything other than your lungs (which a CT should be used for).
    Best wishes-
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #3
    Xray and ultrasound follow-up
    Lance, I also have had CT and PETs for followup (I don't even want to THINK about an MRI, I have to medicate for the PET as it is!). The only followup with ultrasound has been spots on my kidneys which are water cysts. They tried ultrasound to "locate" the fluid in my abdomen back when I had a recurrence of my colon cancer on my ovary, but they claimed they couldn't find any fluid (I looked about 5 months pregnant at that time). When I was looking more like 9 months pregnant a few weeks later and so uncomfortable i was in tears, my onc just stuck in the drainage tube and let about 4L of fluid drain, so i wasn't real impressed with the abdominal ultrasound results (nor the $860 bill that came with it). I am sure there will be posts of people who have had issues with liver mets that can help you in this decision. Good luck and let us know how things go, ok? Mary
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #4
    CT vs. ultrasound etc.
    I am not particularly knowledgeable about this, but I don't understand why they would unltrasound your lungs rather than do a CT scan - yes there is more radiation - but your previous treatment was 20 years ago - and it isn't that much radiation.

    Can you get a second opinion about this?
  • sladich
    sladich Member Posts: 429 Member
    #5
    Xray & Ultrasound
    I've only had CT's and PET's for screening. Xray's and ultrasounds have never been suggested.

    Debbie
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #6
    ultrasound follow-up to CT
    I've had two ultrasounds, each for the same reason. A spot on my liver showed up on a CT scan, and an ultrasound was ordered to rule out the spot being a metastasis. Apparently, it isn't.
    --Greg
  • Monicaemilia
    Monicaemilia Member Posts: 455 Member
    #7
    My vote - c-scan
    Lance, I would push for the c-scan. Hopefully the spot in the liver is absolutely nothing to worry about, but if it is, now is the time to do something about it. Monica
  • Madre
    Madre Member Posts: 123
    #8
    I had unltrasound on my
    I had unltrasound on my liver and gall bladder, then an mri on my liver and gall bladder, found 2 cyst on the liver that were constitant with the intial CT of lungs, abdomen and pelvis I had prior to chemo. I was told they would continue to ultrasound the liver every year to keep an eye on the cyst. I get sick from the ct contratrast so I'm all for ultrasound if it is effective. Good luck to you.
  • polarprincess
    polarprincess Member Posts: 202 Member
    #9
    Madre said:

    I had unltrasound on my
    I had unltrasound on my liver and gall bladder, then an mri on my liver and gall bladder, found 2 cyst on the liver that were constitant with the intial CT of lungs, abdomen and pelvis I had prior to chemo. I was told they would continue to ultrasound the liver every year to keep an eye on the cyst. I get sick from the ct contratrast so I'm all for ultrasound if it is effective. Good luck to you.

    hi
    hi, just a comment that the fatty liver thing must be very common following cancer and/or treatments. I work in a hospital as a dietetic tech and i cannot tell you how many people in follow up have fatty liver issues.
  • ldot123
    ldot123 Member Posts: 272
    #10
    polarprincess said:

    hi
    hi, just a comment that the fatty liver thing must be very common following cancer and/or treatments. I work in a hospital as a dietetic tech and i cannot tell you how many people in follow up have fatty liver issues.

    Thanks Polarprincess
    That is very interesting info in regard to the fatty liver. Do you know if there is a recommendation to cut down on fats overall to help address this. Here is a question: as a dietetic tech, do you recommend anything to these patients. I also have ongoing issues with gas, acid reflux and so on. I wonder if former chemo and surgical patients need to cut out anything. For example, does having less colon cause digestive problems. Might be an interesting post. Cheers, Lance
    PS - Thanks for all the other replies too.

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