2 month post op MRI

[ataylor]

I had what I thought was "total resection" of a right side AN on Jan 10th of this year. Returned to work 4 weeks post op and, for the most part, have had an uneventful recovery. Went for my 2 month MRI on 3/9/2012 & didn't think much about it as I was sure everything was gone. Yesterday I met with my ENT to go over the results and was shocked to hear " 5.4 mm enhancing lesion...suspicious for residual or recurrent lesion. Mild dural enhancement is also evident." I really felt like I had been punched in the stomach as I thought I would be receiving a clean bill of health.

Could this be scar tissue? Is it normal to have that much in such a short time? If not scar tissue, is it even possible that anything would grow 5.4 mm in 2 months.

I would love to hear some thoughts!

[Jim Scott]

Hi ~

I'm not a doctor but I can state with some confidence that a resected AN shouldn't re-grow that fast in just 3 months.  It may well be scar tissue or if the MRI was performed on 2 different units, a difference in the scanning 'slices'.  I would seek another evaluation of the MRI results before assuming the AN is re-growing. 

Jim

[ataylor]

Thanks Jim! The radiologist did re-read it and compared it to pre-op images and pretty much came to that conclusion. Just got a little excited.  Also learned today that I should wait at least 6 months (maybe even a year) for most accuracte picture. Discharge papers did say "MRI in 2 months" so I was just following Dr's orders.  Feeling much better about the situation today though. Thank you!