CK after MRI

[sree]

Hi
I was scheduled for CK next week at Kaiser, SF
I had an MRI and mask, CT scan done on September 6th and 7th.
Today my Radiation Oncologist called to say that they need to cancel
my appointment because there is some maintainance isuue going on
with CK machine and it might take 2 to 3 weeks to get it ready again.
He said he will schedule CK treatment around after 3 weeks.

I asked him if I need to go for oe more MRI he said there is no need.
The one I had on Sep 6th is fine since its a slow growing tumor.
This bothered me a bit.

Also my MRI in may showed 2mm growth and the reading showed 9mmX4mm
but the precise one on sep 6th shows 12.5mmX6mm
I was shocked to see the difference but the doc says radiologist measured it
wrong on the previous one and the one they have now has the actual size.
They will use MRI and CT scan to plan the actual treatment.
I wasn't sure which one was correct.

Please give me any advice on these

Is it ok to go with almost 1 month old MRI results for radiation?

thanks

Sree

[rupert]

I didn't have CK I had GK but, they did an MRI right before I went into the machine to do the final mapping.

[LakeErie]

My very experienced neurosurgeons for both craniotomy and GK told me they never even look at the radiologist reports and measurements because the radiologists interpret so many different images and the neurosurgeons look at tumors and other brain lesions every day and  make their own measurements. Sometimes the radiologists are incorrect in their measurements. In my particular case, the original MRI report under reported the size of my tumor in its longest dimension by 7 mm's according to my surgeon.
Presently I have a pancreatic cyst and it has been reported by different radiologists over 4 years as being unchanged yet the diameter measurements are all different. My gastroenterologist reviews the images himself and insists there have been no changes in the size of the cyst.
The important thing is that your doctors have the dimensions they need to chart your treatment plan. Just one person's experience. Good luck.

[ANSydney]

If we cannot rely on the radiologists reported dimensions, what hope is there?

Also some disciplines include the inner ear component (the ice-cream cone), while others only measure the component outside the inner ear (the ice-cream).

The only way to tell the potential change in dimensions is to give both images to the one person and get them report. (I take a look at the MRI images myself, as well.)

[gary.s]

Hi sree,

I had CK in April and my MRI prior to CK was taken in March. Both the neurologist and radiologist said that one month is okay, but not much more. As a result, the radiologist had me take another MRI in May in order to get some baseline data. My next MRI will be done in November to see how the tumor is doing.

I am sure postponing CK is very difficult. Once you make up your mind to do it, you just gotta do it. You now have time to see another neurologist and get a second opinion if you are feeling nervous about Kaiser. Best of luck sree.

Gary