CT not MRI should I be concerned

[RichP]

Hi all

I've been referred for a CT scan to rule in/out acoustic neuroma.

Long story short, a few years of intermittent tinnitus in one ear. Now its permanent with reduced hearing, as I man I buried the symptoms, righting it off as 'getting old'. Started to notice my balance getting worse. Over Christmas I collapsed twice with vertigo, I literally lay on the floor panting for an hour and I couldn't move.

Seen my GP a couple of days ago and she immediately booked me in for an urgent CT scan (UK), obviously Im reading up as you do and it seem MRI is far more conclusive. Is a CT scan in the UK the normal procedure? Im sure the ENT department know what they are doing.

Thanks in advance.   

[Director]

Rich,
  Check out our page about diagnosis: https://www.anausa.org/learn-about-acoustic-neuroma/diagnosing-an-acoustic-neuroma

[RichP]

Thanks.

My GP just mentioned CT scan.

So the MRI with dye is used after other tests for confirmation/sizing if I'm reading it correctly. Will have to wait and see then..

[PaulW]

A CT Scan will identify larger AN's but will not detect smaller ones.

I had a CT Scan 18 months before I was diagnosed and it came back Negative.
Another CT Scan 18 months later was suspect of AN.

The MRI showed a 10x5x5mm AN.

Mine was detected on a CT Scan because it deformed the bone of the Internal Auditory Canal.


 

[RichP]

Seems my GP was slightly mixed up. Contacted the ENT department I've been referred to and its an MRI. I have private medical through my employer, so depending if anything is found and NHS time frame, I may as well go ahead and use it.

I hit every red flag but trying to remain positive, it could of been a lot worse. 

[ANSydney]

Just as well it's an MRI. CT scans use ionizing radiation which I would avoid.

[jami]

Glad to hear its an MRI, best of luck towards clarity on what you are experiencing!

[RichP]

Hi all

A update.

I saw an ENT consultant last week. I went in with a complete open mind as to the issues I've been having. I found the doctor quite dismissive. He took a brief history, kept interrupting me to the point I actually said, "can I please finish what I'm trying to explain".

He then said eustachian tube is blocked causing all your symptoms. He then sent me off for a pure tone audiometry test and tympanometry test. Audiometry test showed mild hearing lost in left ear, tympanometry test was clear, no eustachian tube issue, no flued in inner ear, nothing.

I sat there and said Ive currently got pulsatile and normal tinnitus in my left ear, poor balance. I can't stand on one foot with my eyes closed, I fall over. Plus 3 bouts of severe vertigo, something isn't right. He replied, "I can only go off the information in front of me". He now thinks I could have Otosclerosis, stiffening of the inner ear bones, but admitted some symptoms didn't match this diagnosis. I've now been booked in for a CT scan to check for this.

I know AN is very rare, so it's very unlikely it is that, I just found the doctor attitude off. I'm now concidering going private, as the NHS is pretty slow.

[ANSydney]

AN isn't all that rare. 1 in 1,000 people will be diagnosed with one in their lifetime. 1 in 100 people will get one, but 90% of these will never be diagnosed.

 https://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=23671.msg979776023#msg979776023

[RichP]

Hi all

A brief update.

I went private and seen an ENT surgeon, he believes I could have meniere's disease. Thankfully I'm booked in for a MRI brain and auiditry meatus scan. Plus MR anglogram and venogram. To rule out anything else.

Been a frustrating few months, hopefully heading for a conclusion.

[Maria Odete]

Hi Rich,

MRI imaging is superior to CT imaging and more accurate for finding small brain tumors. MRI imaging also offers higher safety than what CT imaging offers.

Maria Odete