xrays for lesions

[Theresalp]

does anyone know if a regular xray can detect brain lesions?

[Theresalp]

Thank You all.
Yes I will keep you informed.
This is really strange and i will be relieved to have it figured out.

[immisceo]

Re: Metal and MRIs, Ess is right.

First step is usually part of the informed consent process and involves disclosing any metal you may have in your body, and the professionals go from there. I know our questionnaires prior to each MRI ask about tattoos (metal in some inks), angle-grinding, gunshot wounds, metal medical implants, etc.

Not to say those discount being able to have an MRI automatically, just that the radiologist needs to know about them in order to make the call. I have a copper IUD that I disclose each time, but it's a non-issue as far as the MRIs I've been given goes.

[essdipity]

Must disagree with Caregiver here. No neurologist would be satisfied with ultrasound for detection of MS lesions, so if one were performed, it would need to be followed by MRI anyway, thus making things even more expensive.

As to metal making MRIs impossible, not so. I have significant metal in my left foot, right ankle and right elbow, and have had countless MRIs. Depends on what metal is used, with titanium being the least magnetic and thus safe.

It seems that Theresa's doctor found something lesion-like rather incidentally on her neck x-ray done for another purpose, not to identify MS lesions.

ess

[caregiver222]

The x-ray only shows densities. I have taken thousands of them and they are essentially obsolete as an imaging tool except for reduction of fractures.

At this point I would suggest first an ultrasonic dopplar, which is inexpensive.

Secondarily you might talk about an MRI, preferably from a 3T machine. If they used metal to pin the bone you cannot have an MRI. Only a CAT scan.

[HVAC]

I am glad the neurologist is following up. Let us know how it goes.

Alex

[Theresalp]

I forgot to add that the neurologist is still trying to figure out what the brain lesions I do have  are

[Theresalp]

Thank You all for your replies. I had an xray done this week for my cervical neck (i had a 2nd fusion with hardware) when looking at the xray it showed the bottom half of the back of my head and there is something that shows up about the size of a pencil eraser. My neurologist told me that its not a tumor but she doesnt know what it is. She is looking into. I was just wondering if an xray could pick up a lesion.

[HVAC]

CAT Scans do not see MS either. Neither shows white matter. My first MRI was not done with MS protocol but it did have contrast and showed lesions. The real advantage of a MRI under MS protocol is it shows active and old lesions. If cost is the issue MSAA has some financial aid for MRIs used in diagnosing MS also you can shop around for MRIs, For example the ones I have at Duke are more expensive than the ones at a local radiology center.

Alex

[immisceo]

There was an imaging technique that pre-dated CAT scans and MRIs called pneumoencephalography, but it wasn't very accurate and could be incredibly dangerous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumoencephalography

Basically, they emptied you of massive amounts of cerebro-spinal fluid and pumped gas into your brain so they could image it. X-rays can't penetrate liquids and aren't much use on soft tissues, hence their usefulness in detecting pneumonia - the lungs look opaque.

My neurologist has been practicing for over 40 years and was in training when this technique was still in use. He once saw the calculations go wrong and a 14 year-old girl very nearly died on the table. The chance of lesser complications was also much, much higher.

We're all very fortunate to have non-invasive imaging techniques available to us these days, because the use of x-rays for brain issues actually necessitated a very tricky process indeed.

[essdipity]

No, x-rays are not good for imaging lesions. I'm not very knowledgeable at all, but I do know that standard x-rays are not done in 'slices,' or cross sections either top to bottom or side to side, and that is what's needed to thoroughly examine brain tissue in terms of MS.

MRIs, though very expensive, pose no danger from radiation, which would be considerable in x-rays done over time. There are quite a lot of variations in imaging, none of which I really understand, but the bottom line is that the only technique that can create images for MS purposes is the MRI.

ess