Have you ever....

taken your MRI scans to another radiologist to review?

Dislcaimer I am not a Doctor nor do I pretend to be one on TV. ;)

The reason I ask is that despite my not being a radiologist there are several suspicious areas on my MRI. My CT scan initially reflected several questionable areas of lower density and said if there was strong clinical suspicion of demyelination an MRI should be performed... at the time, we were not indicating any suspicion with MS. My MRI was clean but I see many very small and a couple larger "blurry" sections on my MRI that appear to get larger and more pronounced at different layers.

There are over 400 images. How do they not frequently miss those? I mean, if they get even remotely lazy and just quickly scan them, they can easily be overlooked. I want to question the spots individually and the doctor explain them to me. lol ~ Why don't they do that? I think that is perfectly reasonableconsidering how much these tests cost and this is your body!  Hehe ~

[Starryeyes2]

Hi-
Yes, I took all of my previous MRI's (3 diff visits totalling almost a yr...)to my MS Specialist to look over and he discovered a total of 4 lesions compared to the 1 lesion that the other neurologist saw who refused to diagnose me.

I had my new DR send a copy of my visit with him to the other neurologist to "let him know" that I DID have MS and I wasn't just stressed!

Kristi

[Karen99]

400 images?  Wow, that's a lot!  One of my personal rules is that neurologists look at the MRI themselves and not just rely on the radiologist report.  All good neuro's do this.
Good luck finding a neuro who is going to flip through 400 images with you and give explanation to what looks suspicious to you  :-)  

The radiology report could lead your neuro to areas to be further scrutinized.  

Getting a second reading of MRI's is a totally reasonable request. Go for it!

[Sidesteps]

I don't think I found a good Neuro. lol Neither of them reviewed my scans themselves.

My Neuro had to flip through the report and didn't even catch on my CT scan they stated there was many questionable areas of possible demyelination. The radiologist recommended an MRI if there was clinical evidence of demyelination.  I doubted the report and got a copy then ask my Neuro about it. That is when he ordered the MRI.

The MS Specialist received my scans and met with me 10 minutes later. Pretty sure he just looked at my reports too as he just said "I saw suspected ON so we are going to test you for that..... "

I had a CT scan, MRI Brain, MRI cervical so that is the total of those (400 images.)  My MRI reports shows NOTHING except a bulging C5-6 disc with annular tear, deviated septum and TMJ. Totally unremarkable.

[essdipity]

You always have the choice of having your MRIs reviewed elsewhere. If you would like to do that, find a neuroradiologist and ask for a consult.

However, I have to say that CT scans are useless as an indicator of MS lesions, which is why they referred you for MRI :-)

Also, we never never suggest trying to read your own MRI results. That takes many years of practice, which no one here has.

My last neuro before this one held one sheet of the films up to room light for 5 seconds, read the accompanying report, and said this isn't MS. He clearly didn't know how to read MRIs. So I found a new and better neuro, an MS specialist and ultimately rec'd diagnosis and treatment.

The point I am trying to make is that if you are dissatisfied with your neuro, it's much better to start over and get the right help from a doctor you have faith in than to do an end run about the MRI reading thru another radiologist and staying with the same neuro.

Good luck,
ess

[Sidesteps]

How do you find a doctor you have faith in? I received referrals from my GP and then requested my own referral to an MS Specialist --- both proved to not follow through or review what was available to them.

I'm at a loss.  I did decide to go back to my normal GP. I had to change insurances last year so I couldn't see him. We shall see.