CTs versus MRI

[Redheadsmommy]

Hello all! Just wondering if any one has experience with CT scan showing possible chiari then ruled out by MRI. I have had two CT scans over past 3 years due to vertigo- type symptoms that said possible chiari but MRI on first showed no chiari. Wondering if I could be one of the Chiari zeros I keep reading about and was misdiagnosed by MD reading MRI. Just trying to find answers to symptoms that don't make sense and are beginning to become debilitating. Thanks for any help!!!

[*Stormy*]

That's a familiar feeling...going to all these Dr's knowing that they think you are "stressed etc" yet knowing they won't actually say it to your face...it just radiates from them. I left my GP's office more than once feeling completely humiliated.

Unfortunately, that is something that most of us seem to have to battle in order to get answers!

I had the same problem in Canada..no CINE MRI's and no true Chiari specialists..

I really hope that you can get access to both...it seems to make things a lot clearer..

Good luck
Carolyn

[selmaS]

U r welcomme and seem to be in the same boat all of us were in ....it is such a shame we have to fight for the health care....sigh....

Will ur current dr send u for the CINE? Not all MRI facilities do these so u do have to ask around.

U may need to travel to get to a chiari specialist.....ur insurance co may be able to assist u to locate one within their service area.

"selma"

[Redheadsmommy]

Thanks for your comments. I was thinking that i might need to get a CINE MRI based on what I have been reading about chiaris-  what is the opinion or experiences here as far as this test goes. Also, I live in SC- dont see any specialists for  my area. I thought I would see if I could get the test first then try to locate a specialist with my insurance if the Cine shows that I have problems with my CSF. I am grasping at straws here because I have been dealing with over 20 years of problems that have been attributed to stress, raising children, miscarriages, hypothyroidism, etc...... I just want to know that I am not the hypochondriac, too knowledgable, borderline crazy person that I feel like doctors are trying  NOT to say I am.

[*Stormy*]

Hello

Well I had the opposite experience...Chiari was not seen on the CT but was seen on the MRI. From what I know, the MRI is the best way to tell if you have Chiari. I wouldn't say it would be ruled out though in your case..mine still wasn't recognized by the radiologist that looked at my MRI pics. I didn't get dx with it until I saw a NS. So what I am saying is that it may not be so much the pictures..it may be who is reading them.

I would take all your copies of you pics and get them seen by a Chiari specialist (as Selma recommended).

Good luck
Carolyn

[selmaS]

HI...u deff need to get copies of all these tests and have a NS read them...a MD may see it and think it is of no consequence...

If diff slices r taken and compared it can appear as if they r diff sizes......

It  is also possible that u do have chiari 0 and that the dr does not know about this term and condition.

Have u looked at our drs thread?...research them to find  a NS that is well informed on chiari for another opinion.'

Good luck
"selma"