MRI vs Ultrasound vs Cat Scan

[jmjm530]

As a stage 3, my first doctor recommended alternating MRI's, Cat Scans and Ultrasounds -- one every six months -- for life in order to monitor my liver. A second doctor was concerned about the radiation Cat Scans produce, and since I'll hopefully be doing these for a long, long time, he suggested only alternating MRI's and Ultrasounds. No x-rays are used in an MRI.

Wondering what everyone else has been told and is doing?
Also, if you know, did you have your mri with and without contrast and the same question for the MRI. I believe when the inject the dye in your arm, that means "with contrast". Not 100% sure here.

In case you get the two mixed up, as I always do -- the MRI is the one where you stay in this long claustraphobic tube for 20-30 minutes while hearing very loud clanging sounds requiring either ear mufflers or ear plugs. A good way to remember which one uses X-rays and which doesn't is that MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Scanning. In other words, it uses magnets not x-rays.

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

That's the scariest part of all this

[jmjm530]

I got a similar talk except for the preference of adding other tests such as MRI and Cat Scan for different "looks" as posted above.

How often does everyone's doctors recommend alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)testing? I just got my AFP test today which was 1.7 so I guess that's good news as anything under 6.1 is within normal range.

[can-do-man]

Hello and welcome. always glad to  see new people here. Just a little bossy for your first post don't ya think. That is if you can. I mean your name is goofy you know..:)

[jmjm530]

Ditto what CDM said. BTW none of us are doctors here, although CDM sometimes likes to play doctor with the ladies :)

[friole]

First of all the throw the ultrasound out the door.  It just does not give the information that you and your doctor need.  I know before I had my laproscopic biopsy, the doc asked if I had a catscan or an ultrasound.  He would have liked to see the catscan but didn't even want to see the ultrasound.

Second, the MRI is probably good.  However, I had one for a problem with my leg a few months ago and it turned up nothing - other than the fact I had no deep tissue or bone damage.  However, it was not help with my problem - still have it.

Third, what about a biopsy?  I would think that would be the first thing you would do -- maybe in a few months -- just to get the staging done again and see what kind of reversal there is.  Then, I certainly would not submit to 2 cat scans a year if the damage was less than the 3

All anecdotal - no fact - just throwing in my 2 cents, Jim.  I will be interested to see what my doctor's protocol will be after treatment.  I have my suspicions it will be a sincere hand on my thigh and a god bless..... and that will be the end of it.  You see, I don't have a top notch anything - just what is locally available.
friole

[jmjm530]

It's interesting how different docs have different takes on these tests and their frequency. Actually, never asked my current doc about MRIs versus Ultrasound versus Cat Scans -- since other issues have been on my mind while treating. Also, never discussed liver biopsy for same reason, except early-on when I thought a mid-tx biopsy might help us in determining tx length (my biopsy is now 3-4 year old) but he talked me out of that idea.

I did ask, however, a consulting hepatologist regarding post tx biopsy and he didn't seem particularly keen on the idea whether or not I SVRd. There is a school of thought that you only do biopsy when a treatment decision is at stake so what would be the point of a biopsy for me now, assuming I'm SVR? Let's say it goes from stage 3 to 4 -- I don't think they're going to treat me again :) Of course, I'm curious, but that is not supposed to be a good reason for biopsy as it does have risks. That said, if something shows up on one of my scans such as fatty liver, they might use a biopsy to dx further. But for now, my plan is to follow-up with the Fibroscan device, unless of course, my doc talks me into a biopsy.

-- Jim