Liver Ultrasound

MRI
Hi,

I've usually had a CT done for the liver. My liver specialist actually said an MRI is the best for the liver and a CT is the best for the lungs. Never heard of anyone having an ultrasound for it. Wonder if they're just trying to save money, as the CT and MRI are more expensive. I had to argue w/ my father in law's doctor a few months back. They were checking to see if his cancer (merkel cell carcinoma, which he had removed from his scalp) had spread to his lungs, so the Dr. (a regular internist) just ordered an X-ray of his lungs. I responded that a CT would make more sense and an X-ray might not show things if they're there. His response was maddening- that "Medicare shouldn't have to pay for such an expensive scan". I couldn't believe he actually came out and said that! We got the Ct done anyhow, ordered by the oncologist the next week. I hope that this isn't the case w/ your Dr., I would hope not- but I would insist on getting at least a CT or possibly an MRI (MRI would be a way to avoid more radiation exposure if that happens to be a concern for you or your Dr.).
Best wishes,
Lisa

Faith88 said:

update on liver ultrasound
Hi I just want to thank those who replied to my post. I did get some answers which I guess make sense. His doc wanted to do the U/S first to check his liver and kidneys just to see if anything needed further followup and insurance did not have to preapprove so it was a first check to see if his lesion had changed and if anything else to further investigate. the good news was the lesion was still the same, but his liver was enlarged and he called it Non-Alcoholic fatty liver or NASH, but needs to have a liver biopsy or pet scan next..so now I'm worried again.
Other than the fact that he loves sugar in his coffee and sugary sodas he doesn't drink at all, he is about 30 lbs overweight though. Just wondering if anyone has had an liver issues or knows anything about enlarged liver and relation to CC?
I know I'm fishing and I should just try not to borrow trouble but I guess I just hate the wondering and worrying what it might be.
Best wishes to all out there with every challenge and I pray each day for everyone and the caregivers who have to keep up the strength.
Faith88

Update
Hey Faith,

I wouldn't go borrowing worries... not until you've been given something concrete to worry about. You say he had the lesion prior to surgery, that he's now 14 months out of chemo and they lesion has not changed... then I would tend to agree that there's nothing to worry about there. As for the "Non-Alcoholic fatty liver"... this is very, VERY common with North Americans and our Western diet... aka "we eat too well and too rich". It is not found often, if at all, in third world countries because they don't have the rich foods we have. We tend to be a very high carb ingesting continent... hence, the pastas, breads, sweets, junk foods, etc. all contribute to fatty deposits in the liver, which are not alcohol-driven

So, other than changing his diet (and everyone knows they should but most of us don't), the fatty deposits in the liver are not caused by cancer, but more so by diet.

Relation of CC to liver... if the CC is going to spread the two most common areas for it to spread to are the liver and the lungs. But, it sounds like his doctor is not too concerned but is doing the scans that are available as a precautionary measure, which is a GOOD thing. They will also give a baseline of scans to compare to when 3 months, 6 months, whatever is decided down the road they decide to do more, they will now have scans to compare them to. It is not uncommon at all, after a patient has had CC surgery, to do scans on a regular basis... this is all part of the monitoring process and nipping anything in the bud SHOULD they find something. If they don't, then great... but they will still make appts. for future scans.

Huggggs,

Cheryl