Aa
CT scan vs. MRI question
Question. When it comes to looking at neck lymph nodes, which would be more accurate or more telling? A few weeks ago I went for a CT scan on my neck. The results said I had about 5 slightly enlarged nodes but in normal size range and there was no Necrosis/dead cells which I have heard is a good sign. Now I'm wondering if those results could be wrong and if they could be inaccurate because I heard that an MRI takes deeper pictures than a CT does.
Any info would be great.
Any info would be great.
Hi Joey here in England it is a PET scan that is considered the gold standard. Sometimes a CT is used in initial diagnosis.
Bob
Bob
Hello and thanks for your response.
No my doctor didn't indicate any problems. But then again he wasn't a good doctor, at least not in my opinion, but has been around for years. He said there was nothing wrong at all. But the report said they couldn't diagnose lymphoma through the scan, which I knew. I know it needs to have a biopsy. But a few people I have talked to said because it said there was no necrosis found, that makes it a good sign.
The only reason why I question it is for a reason unrelated to my own problem. My uncle slipped on ice after thanksgiving and went to the hospital and had a CT scan on his brain and nothing was found. Last week he had headaches that weren't going away so he went back to the hospital and this time they did an MRI and saw there was a lot of bleeding that has been going on for a while. So clearly the CT scan didn't pick up what the MRI did. That's the only why I question this for myself. I'm wondering if the CT missed something. It's probably the hypochondriac in me.
No my doctor didn't indicate any problems. But then again he wasn't a good doctor, at least not in my opinion, but has been around for years. He said there was nothing wrong at all. But the report said they couldn't diagnose lymphoma through the scan, which I knew. I know it needs to have a biopsy. But a few people I have talked to said because it said there was no necrosis found, that makes it a good sign.
The only reason why I question it is for a reason unrelated to my own problem. My uncle slipped on ice after thanksgiving and went to the hospital and had a CT scan on his brain and nothing was found. Last week he had headaches that weren't going away so he went back to the hospital and this time they did an MRI and saw there was a lot of bleeding that has been going on for a while. So clearly the CT scan didn't pick up what the MRI did. That's the only why I question this for myself. I'm wondering if the CT missed something. It's probably the hypochondriac in me.
Hi Joey,
Welcome to the forum. To be honest, I'm not really sure which scan is better, but I believe they are used for different things. I personally only had CT scans when I went through my Lymphoma diagnosis and I'm sure there was is a good reason for that. Did your doctor indicate a problem reading the scan? I'm just wondering why you are doubting its accuracy.
Welcome to the forum. To be honest, I'm not really sure which scan is better, but I believe they are used for different things. I personally only had CT scans when I went through my Lymphoma diagnosis and I'm sure there was is a good reason for that. Did your doctor indicate a problem reading the scan? I'm just wondering why you are doubting its accuracy.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Community
An interview with the co-discoverer of one of the biggest breakthroughs in cancer research
From causes to treatment options, get answers to your questions about CML, a type of blood cancer
New drug options on the horizon may make CML, a type of blood cancer, one of the few success stories in cancer treatment
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
