Liver Lesions

[KIMBER221]

I really need answers.  Back in March I had an MRI for a herniated disc.  The MRI showed a lesion on the liver. Ultrasound was ordered. Then CT. Then MRI.  In total 3 were found.  The biggest on the right lobe was 5 cm.  Another small one on right lobe.  Both of these are believed to be hemangiamas (nothing to worry about).  The problem lies in the third.  It is in the left lobe and does not appear to be a hemangiama.  First set of scans says probably FNH or hepatic adenmoa.  GI doc said to stop BCP and follow up with scan.  Ultrasound done a week ago says the largest lesion is now 6cm.  Questionable lesion in left lobe has grown frm 1.1 to 1.6 cm.  . Report says hypoechoic nodular lesion coud still reptresent hepatic adenoma, however slight interval change merits short term follow up. My GI doctor is not answering my calls.  What could this mean.  Any info would be helpful.

[jjball1959]

change doctors. or go to his office and sit there until he sees you. You deserve the common courtesy of a returned phone call. Be demanding this is your life and you are your own best advocate because knowone knows you better than you. Good luck.

Joyce

[Kaneda2112]

From online sources -

Hypoechoic and hyperechoic are terms radiologists use to describe what sort of echo "shadow" the nodule casts. Hypoechoic nodules cast off fewer or weaker echoes than the surrounding normal tissue, while hyperechoic nodules cast more or stronger echoes than the surrounding normal tissue.

Typically, benign thyroid nodules appear hyperechoic on the sonogram, while malignant (cancerous) thyroid nodules are more likely to be hypoechoic, casting off fewer or weaker echoes. However, the chance of any hypoechoic nodule being cancerous is still very low, because benign thyroid nodules are much more common. If a thyroid nodule requires further evaluation, the next step is generally to perform a fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the suspicious nodule, a test in which a thin needle is inserted into the nodule to extract cells for evaluation. Looking at these cells under a microscope helps to determine whether or not the nodule contains cancer cells.

Bottom line: You should speak with your doctor about your thyroid ultrasound results and ask whether the findings require further evaluation by a test such as an FNA.

And from another source -

"A hyperechoic lesion in the liver can be various things including benign masses such as hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasia, and focal fatty infiltration. However they can be metastatic cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma. You need to get a 3 phase contrast CT of the liver first. Depending on the CT, you may need a biopsy, another study (mri or nuclear scan) or need to do nothing(it is benign)."