Pelvic CT Results

[bmfk]

I have symptoms for six months or longer, mainly severe bloating and extremely tired.  I am 42 and never had children.

A recent pelvic/abdominal CT scan with contrast on July 14 showed "The patient has a 4.7 x 4.1 cm right ovarian mass with fat and calcifications.  Right dermoid should be considered.  There is a left adnexal mass which may merely be a cyst.  There are small retroperitoneal nodes.  The patient also has bilateral kidney stones and a stone in the uterer causing marked left hydronephrosis."  My hgb was 8.9 a month ago and is now 8.8.

I had a TA/TV ultrasound done at a different hospital on June 20.  Only finding was follicular cysts on both ovaries, which they said are considered normal.

What does the CT results mean and will the dermoid have to be removed?  What is the significance of the "small retroperitoneal nodes"?  Am I o anemic because of the dermoid and/or the kidney stones/hydronephrosis?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[brthbbs]

Dermoid cysts should always be removed.  Lymph nodes should always be checked out.  Kidney stones will eventually  pass or need to come out since they are very painful.  Low hemoglobin could simply be because you menstruate and don't get enough iron in your diet.  The difference between 8.9 and 8.8 is nothing. If your hemoglobin had dropped a whole point or more then the concern would be real. However a low hemoglobin is cause for concern--do you have low hemoglobin because your origins are from the southern part of the world or is it because your liver isn't processing iron or do you have a low iron diet.  Some of these questions could and should be answered by your physician or if your doctor has a nurse practitioner that would be better as she would spend more time with you to talk about this stuff.

[bmfk]

Thanks for the reply.  I am going back to my internist on Tuesday.  He is going to set me up to see an OB/GYN, a hematologist, and a urologist.  I was afraid the dermoid would have to come out.  If so, I am hoping for an outpatient surgery rather than open surgery.  

While some of the kidney stones may pass, one is supposedly blocking the uterer which is causing the hydronephrosis.  From what I understand, if the hydronephrosis is not taken care of, the kidney could be damaged.  The weird thing is you are supposed to have a lot of pain if a stone blocks a uterer.  I have none and would never have know about this if not for the CT.

While I know going from 8.9 to 8.8 with the Hgb in a month is "nothing," normal Hgb for women is 12-15.  "Dangerous levels" from what I have been told is when the Hgb falls below 10.  They are talking a blood transfusion or providing iron via an IV.  I have not been to a doctor in over ten years and only went in June because of the severe bloating I have had for at least six months.  So I could have been anemic for longer than I know.

I was concerned about the finding of the small retroperitoneal nodes.  But I figure my doctor is taking time so it's probably nothing to worry too much about.  Maybe just a little infection or inflammation.

Thanks again for your help.  I appreciate it.