Hi All, I was given my diagnosis on Thursday and had my MRI scan on Sunday. I was expecting a full body scan but they only did my pelvic area. Is this normal?
Hello and welcome to the forum although I’m sorry to learn of your recent diagnosis.
Yes the MRI is usually of the pelvic region and then there is also either a full body CT or PET-MRI as well but if you’ve already had these before your diagnosis they won’t get repeated until after treatment finishes.
The diagnosis is usually confirmed by biopsy also.
Another welcome to the forum although I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. However, you have come to the right place, we have all been through what you are going through right now with the accompanying stress at the various investigations and scans. You will feel a lot more in control once treatment starts, I promise.
I honestly can't remember whether the MRI scan was a full body scan or not but the CT scan was, and then I went on to have a PET scan. I haven't had another PET scan since treatment ended, when I asked why I was told that the the PET scan was was generally only used for diagnostic purposes and after treatment would show up areas that have been treated as 'hot spots' when in fact they are not suspicious at all. All of the scans will show areas of concern (if there are any).
Please let us know your treatment plan and when it is due to start, we have lots of hints and coping strategies and there is almost always someone around to help.
I’m really sorry to hear of your diagnosis and I’m sure that you are anxiously waiting for your treatment plan. There is so much helpful information and guidance on this forum so it’s good that you’ve found it.
All the MRI scans I had were of the pelvic area. The CT scans were of thorax, abdomen and pelvis. I personally never had a PET scan but this seems to vary depending on the oncologist. Scans were given prior to treatment and then at 3 and 6 months. I had a 9 month CT in September with results until November.
So, yes, this is normal and standard practice.
As TheMont said, the biopsy seemed to be the main diagnostic procedure at least for me.
The standard chemo radiation treatment regime has really good outcomes. Wishing you well for the next steps.
Prior to treatment the MRI will show most of the detail and aid with the planning of the treatment hence it’s focused on the pelvic area, I actually have had a full body or more accurately a head, spine and pelvic one all in one session but that was because they were looking for something else.
The CT scan as PEB says is more accurately a chest, abdomen and pelvic scan and the PET-MRI tends to be a full body scan and these can be used to check for mets prior to treatment but they are also used complementarily to the other scans as they can pick up more detailed information such as slight activity in the nodes. As Irene points out they can give both false positive and false negative outcomes so they are done under very strict conditions.
I wouldn’t stress too much if you’re not offered a PET scan as I understand it they are not essential but do assist the MDT.
If a post treatment PET-CT scan it’s done alongside an MRI as the two combined is supposed to give a more accurate result than either alone.
