Cat Scans

[Patches2075]

Is a Cat Scan an effective diagnostic tool for  Multiple Sclerosis?  My doctor ordered one for this purpose but I only see MRI listed in the literature I've read.

[Artanis12]

To put it bluntly, your GP is an idiot. Dump him fast. He is NOT qualified to diagnose MS, and he should know that better than anyone. The fact that he doesn't means he needs to be fired. And ordering a CAT??  Unless ANY doctor can give you a well-defined justification for one of those, then you should refuse it - they are very high radiation, and not to be done just because some GP thinks they are cool.  Of course refusing more nicely than I would, will probably be your best bet. My ability and will to suffer arrogant fools is very low these days I'll admit.  Find a new GP, or see if you can get a referral to a Neuro, preferably one specializing in MS. You'd be better off waiting for testing by a doc that has a clue than to do the wrong and in this case, needlessly risky tests just because someone with MD after his name says you should.

[Patches2075]

My family doctor ordered the cat scan and was very upset to see after 3 minutes of research that he was sendin me for a ct scan. Although this is the same doctor that spent 10 mins with me and then said it sounds like ms. I'm sending you for a ct.  I was bewildered. Especially with no referral to a neurologist

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

Cat scans are not a very diagnostically informative test for the assessment of MS, MRI's are generally required to meet the MS Mcdonald criteria and have basically been the standard test used for diagnosing MS since around the 90's. I'm not sure why your doctor ordered a cat scan, is it a neurologist who scheduled this?

Cheers.........JJ