MRI question

[Guest]

My daughter had an MRI this afternoon. The doctor just called and said that the radiologist is still going through all the pictures and so they won't have a official prognosis until Monday, but she wanted to let me know that the unofficial word was a benign cyst; that she didn't want me to worry over the weekend. Given that we thought this was an injury, I'm a bit alarmed. My question is, can an MRI really show if something is benign? Whole new world for me.

 

Thanks.

[ktgrok]

I believe it would show that it was fluid filled (cyst), versus solid.

[Guest]

Okay, that makes sense, I guess. Thank you.

[NittanyJen]

Markers for benign that would show up on an MRI: smooth, regular borders, location, and consistent density, regular shape.

 

Something less benign might tend to have an irregular shape, rough borders, and different densities in different areas. Particular types of tissue have certain well-known anomalies of a benign nature that do not warrant invasive follow-up.

 

For example, many women have fluid-filled cysts in their brains that are completely harmless (even large-- a veritable "hole in the head :lol:). There is a benign type of tumor called a dermoid that can show up in the skull and be harmless (a tumor does not equal cancer). It is fairly common and would not alarm a doctor.

 

If they said not to worry, I would not worry. Nearly 100% of us are somehow asymmetrical, have some type of cyst or benign tumor or some other imperfection somewhere if the imaging technology is pointed at the right place at the right time. If it is a cause for concern, they will tell you. If you are not satisfied with the explanation, you have a right to a copy of the actual MRI (often on a DVD) and can get a second opinion from a specialist.

[Mommyof4ks]

Docs can usually tell by looking if something looks suspicious or not. They see lots of pictures, so they get a good idea of what is concerning and what is not. :grouphug: Waiting is hard.

[itsheresomewhere]

Was this a wrist by any chance? If so, I have the same thing in mine. It comes and goes when it feels like it. You can have it removed but it can happen again. A dear co-worker had hers come back 2 months after surgery.

[Guest]

Okay. These last two days I have been a mess, but your responses make me feel a little better. It's not a wrist, but a knee/leg. She's in a lot of pain, so my next worry is how this is going to get removed. I will leave that worry for Monday, though.

[Pawz4me]

DS had an MRI for back issues and the MRI found a cyst. Although the radiology report said benign cyst, it also recommended a visit with a neurologist. The neurologist also had no doubt that it was a cyst. In DS's case they felt sure the cyst wasn't causing any of his problems, so the recommendation was to leave it alone unless it becomes an issue (and the doc told us what the symptoms would be). DH and I felt perfectly comfortable with the cyst/benign diagnosis.

 

Hopefully in your DD's case there's a relatively simple way for them to access the cyst and drain it.

[ThisIsTheDay]

After your worrying of the past two days, how kind of the dr. to call you later in the evening to reassure you and ease your fear over the weekend. :grouphug:

 

I'm in agreement with the others, there are markers visible on the MRI that provide the radiologist with good clues as to what's being seen. I'd expect them to be able to drain it to remedy your dd's pain.

[Tiramisu]

DS had an MRI for back issues and the MRI found a cyst. Although the radiology report said benign cyst, it also recommended a visit with a neurologist. The neurologist also had no doubt that it was a cyst. In DS's case they felt sure the cyst wasn't causing any of his problems, so the recommendation was to leave it alone unless it becomes an issue (and the doc told us what the symptoms would be). DH and I felt perfectly comfortable with the cyst/benign diagnosis.

 

Hopefully in your DD's case there's a relatively simple way for them to access the cyst and drain it.

 

I don't know if your dd's cyst is the same, but I'll share this story in case it helps.

 

Dh had a cyst on his knee. He had soreness and pressure. It was found by palpitation but confirmed by an MRI. First, he had it drained a few times, but it always re-filled. He finally go arthroscopic (sp?) surgery as an outpatient procedure. He took pain meds that day, but I think he was fine after that--too fine maybe because he should have been staying off his feet more than he did. At first he thought the surgery was a failure and sought a second opinion. But it was all good. Once all the tissue completely healed which took awhile, the cyst went away and never came back. So the surgery wasn't to remove the cyst but to repair some damaged tissue in the knee which was causing the cyst.

[Guest]

You really are all making me feel so much better. And yes, the doctor was so sweet to call me two nights in a row. This gal was awesome - it is our normal office, but we had never seen her before and had to because we got a last minute appointment. She saw us, we had an xray done, and an MRI in just over 24 hours; I am impressed.