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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Concerned about mass in left hemi diaphragm
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Concerned about mass in left hemi diaphragm
by nikita2001, Sep 08, 2006 12:00AM
Hi,
I am a 35 year old female in good health. While having a C/T done for another reason the physicians detected a mass in my left diaphragm.
I went back for an MRI. I was told they do not know what the mass is. All they could tell me is "it is non specific, solid, soft tissue mass not consistent with a cyst,fatty tumor,vascular tumor, or adrenal mass."
The mass measures 4.7cm by 1.7cm. They want me to return every 3-6 months to have MRI's done. I feel I need more info because I'm very nervous.
Are there other tests I should ask about? They told me they could not do a biopsy. Why would that be?
I have had a slight discomfort in that area for around a year now. I noticed it while sleeping on that side, but thought it was a sore muscle.
If anyone could help me I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
Jennifer
I am a 35 year old female in good health. While having a C/T done for another reason the physicians detected a mass in my left diaphragm.
I went back for an MRI. I was told they do not know what the mass is. All they could tell me is "it is non specific, solid, soft tissue mass not consistent with a cyst,fatty tumor,vascular tumor, or adrenal mass."
The mass measures 4.7cm by 1.7cm. They want me to return every 3-6 months to have MRI's done. I feel I need more info because I'm very nervous.
Are there other tests I should ask about? They told me they could not do a biopsy. Why would that be?
I have had a slight discomfort in that area for around a year now. I noticed it while sleeping on that side, but thought it was a sore muscle.
If anyone could help me I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
Jennifer
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Sep 20, 2006 12:00AM
, Sep 20, 2006 12:00AM
Your doctors may deem a biopsy to be too risky. It could also be that there would be too much risk when weighed against the likelihood of making a diagnosis. You should request that a thoracic or pulmonary radiologist review your CT scan. This is a radiologist who specializes in the interpretation of disease within the chest. Ask them to be sure that this is not a hernia.
If it is not possible to tell with reasonable certainty, that this mass is not cancer, even with an MRI, exploratory surgery should be considered. Maybe your doctors are already reasonably certain that this is not a serious problem. However a mass this size may be a problem, even if it isn’t cancer.
A cancerous mass of the diaphragm is rare, but spread of cancer to the diaphragm from another body site, is not rare. Your age and apparent good health makes these diagnoses unlikely.
Repeating studies of a mass this size every 3 to 6 months is not your best option. Ask your doctors what needs to be done to establish a diagnosis. Also ask them to discuss the risks of waiting and repeating CT or MRI.
If it is not possible to tell with reasonable certainty, that this mass is not cancer, even with an MRI, exploratory surgery should be considered. Maybe your doctors are already reasonably certain that this is not a serious problem. However a mass this size may be a problem, even if it isn’t cancer.
A cancerous mass of the diaphragm is rare, but spread of cancer to the diaphragm from another body site, is not rare. Your age and apparent good health makes these diagnoses unlikely.
Repeating studies of a mass this size every 3 to 6 months is not your best option. Ask your doctors what needs to be done to establish a diagnosis. Also ask them to discuss the risks of waiting and repeating CT or MRI.
