CAT Scan Report Ambiguities

[gyaffe]

What does it mean to say masses in the liver seen in a CAT scan are low attenuation ? I assume it's technical related to a machine setting to make the readout clearer--but does it have any significance in characterizing the seriousness of tumors ?

Also, it was said the masses were small. Is there some convention that establishes small in a mm or cm range, or does the use of the word indicate it's too small to be measured or did the radiologist not quantify for some other reason ?

[gyaffe]

Your answer to me was posted on the Mommieof8 thread and vice versa. Please make sure she has your answer. I would have notified you earlier, but I couldn't get in till now.

Thanks you for your response to me. I have a further, process question having to do with thoroughly understanding the radiologist reports. In addition to the "low attenuation" statement you clarified, I'm unclear about other statements in the last scan report, particularly where they make comparisons to earlier scans. Also, this is not the first report where we really would have liked to know more.

We've covered the report with the oncologist. He has enough information, including confirming blood tests, to come to conclusions and determine new treatment so he's not shown interest in asking for addenda as he's done before from time to time. By the way, we have high confidence in him, and we'd not like to take his time unnecessarily on what would be "nice to knows" but side issues.

So my question is--when is it appropriate to talk directly to the radiologist and how should the arrangements be made for doing this ?

Thanks,

P.S. If I can get in, I'll also post this as a new question at some point since you say you may not monitor these comments.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear mommie0f2:  The report from the ultrasound essentially is saying that the only abnormality identified is the cystic structure, which, they feel would not explain the skin retraction.  So the radiologist