Lesions on the liver.

[KAMO]

I told my doctor I was having sharp pains in the liver area so he sent me for a sono. My last sono was 3 years ago when I was dx with HepC.  The new sono didn't show any significant changes over the 3 years, but did show something my doc questioned, so  we scheduled an MRI.  The MRI didn't show much else from the sonogram and the only information I had was that there are many lesions on my liver.  Because of my medical history, my doctors wanted to follow up the MRI with a PET Scan just to be certain what we were dealing with and my insurance company said they wouldn't authorize it.  Disturbing, isn't it!  Anyway, the only way to find out what these lesions are is to do a biopsy, which my doc is not ready to do since there haven't been any real changes in 3 years.  I has anyone had experience with these lesions?  I am grade 1, stage 1, genotype 1, treating for the 2nd time.

[Kalio1]

One thing you can do is appeal the ins company decision and try to get them to do the biopsy. They have someone in the organization that can help you do that, file an appeal to their decision. Often they relent and cover the cost if you get a little pushy about it. How does your doctor know your stage or grade if he didnt do a biopsy?? He has to have a biopsy to know that or a crystal ball!!
Is your doctor a heptologist? If not, get your doc to refer you to a heptologist, then I bet you could get the biopsy.
Try not to get too worried about "lesions" on the liver, the word sounds scary but they don't know what they are seeing yet, if anything because the tests you have had aren't conclusive.
If it was "somthing really bad" then you would have other indicators in your blood tests, one symptom does not consititute enough info for a diagnosis, it is a number of things together they need so don't think the worst. It could be a simple thing or nothing but a badly run scan.

[MrsOckert]

Actually kamo never said she had a biopsy before so I'm curious as to how the dr knows she's a grade/stage 1.  Sono's and MRI's don't show the grades/stages of liver problems, do they?

It sounds like it's the dr that doesn't want to do it.  Weird.

[NYgirl]

Why not do a bx?  

As you know since you've had one before already ... it's no big deal and this sounds important.  I'd have one without a doubt (another one that is) if it was something as important as that.  Lesions on the liver sounds like it should really be checked out - especially if you are only G1 S1 right?

[doglover28]

Hi, I am sorry to hear that your insurance is giving you the run around.  I think the only true way to see if there are changes in the liver is by doing a biopsy.  I could be wrong because I am new at this.  I haven't even had my biopsy yet, but from everything that I've read, the biopsy is the only way.  There are some people in here that know a whole lot more than me, so stick around

[cuteus]

they should have done a biopsy to begin with! direct examination of the liver tissue is the best way to see what is going on. ultrasounds and scans are too vague int their results sometimes.