MRI time after radiation

[tichinose]

My doctor told me the would do an mri 6 months after 26 days of radiation.  I met a woman who went same place for radiation and learned she gets mri one month later?  Why the discrepancy?  Anyone else finish radiation?

[Jim Scott]

Hi ~

Doctors have their own approach to ordering post-radiation MRI scans.  The MRI scan is very expensive and some medical insurance companies balk at a doctor ordering 'too many' for one patient in a relatively short time-frame.  I underwent 3 MRI scans within 2 years of my FSR.  The first was six months following the procedure.  The next six months after that and the third a year later.  That seemed sufficient to me and no problems were found on any of the scans.  I'm sure your doctor is doing what he considers the best for you but if you're concerned, you might ask him if you need an MRI sooner than he has stated, but I think you can already guess what his answer would be.

Jim

[mk]

The typical time frame post radiation is 6 months. Doctors may order an MRI sooner than that if they are worried about swelling, depending on the tumor size/location etc, or if the patient is experiencing symptoms. I got an MRI at 3 months post-GK (although initially I was told that I won't need one until 6 months and I wasn't experiencing any side effects) because the doctor just wanted to "make sure" given the size of my AN. So it can be very patient specific - with the costs involved as Jim indicated, they will order an MRI only if they feel it is necessary.

Marianna

[lholl36233]

I had proton radiation.  With this type of radiation, they don't do a follow up MRI for 1 year.  The next one after that is 18 months.  I'll have my 1 year in December so I will have gone from 08/09 to 12/10 without an MRI.  Feels like a vacation...

Laura

[MLB57]

I had a 1 cm rt AN (surgery--retrosigmoid Jan 2001 UMASSMed Ctr/Worc, MA)
Residual left--continued growing--Didn't want surgery again so chose radiation-- finished 30 FSR w/Dr Loeffler (Mass Gen/Boston MA) on Oct 22 2007... Had first MRI after radiation 1 year later then second at 18 months --next MRI 2012 (2 years from now). 

I'm sure your specialist has hi/hers timeframe as well...

Best wishes,

Mary (aka GrammyMary aka "Mimi")...

[Vivian B.]

I just had gammaknife on June 30/2010 and my MRI is in 6 months. I do have a consultation appt. on Sep 29/2010. I guess if I am having symptoms they may order one earlier. Every doctor and clinic is probably different although 6 months seems to be a good time frame as it takes a while for radiation to start taking effect in any case and they probably don't expect a lot of change prior to the 6 months.

Vivian