Should an interrupted MRI be repeated in full?

[kapakahi]

MRI machine broke in the middle of my scan - I had to go back two days later but not to have the entire scan all over - they just did what would have remained, and combined the two scans. That sounds sketchy to me - does that really work? Because now the radiologist is saying the MRI image doesn't support the need for an MRI biopsy, which my doctors told me I should have. And I'm left wondering if the merging of the two scans wasn't good enough.

[cesanon]

You could always tell the you want a do over, and it wasn't your fault that the machine broke, and they shouldn't be changing your insurance for a half baked scan.

[j-o-h-n in reply to cesanon]

To cesanon,

As per your request: "stop reading my posts please. Thanks" I did not read your post.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 07/11/2019 7:39 PM DST

[Schwah]

Tell us your other symptoms and test readings so we can better advise.

[timotur]

That's a good question. It probably depends on where they were in the process. There are several steps needed before the prostate images are acquired-- plot out the field, calibrate, and do a pre-scan. It could be the earlier steps were saved and did not require a repeat. But it does seem positioning of the target would be needed to be in exactly the same place.

mriquestions.com/what-are-t...

[FCoffey]

I was offered a job designing computers that processed MRI images; I didn't take it but I have done NMR (the real name) in the lab and know how these systems work.

Every MRI exam takes hundreds or thousands of images, then the computer merges them to produce the final results. The computer has to compensate for when you breath or move, and for variations in the magnetic field at the edges of the scan volume. If you stop a scan in the middle, and complete it later, it should make no difference to the computer.

If the MRI doesn't support the need for a biopsy, rejoice! Biopsies are surgical procedures and carry many risks. Let me guess, the doctor telling you that you need one are the ones that will do it, and pocket the fees. The MRI and radiologist don't have that financial incentive.

I had an MRI machine break part way through a scan, and just like yours they restarted where they left off. My radiologist (mine talks to me on the phone, does yours?) told me he couldn't tell that anything was different.

[kapakahi]

Thanks everybody - I should have mentioned that the second MRI was on a different, newer machine because I didn't want to go back to the one that had broken down (trust issues), so I don't know how that might affect the result. I do need a biopsy because my prostate is kind of a mess from four HIFUs (I've been fighting this for 11 years), so the doctor who might do another HIFU thinks it's necessary to try to find out exactly where the tumors are, and he also wants a Gleason score (the four previous ultrasound biopsies that preceded the HIFUs were 4+4 and 3+4). The MRI report could only say it appears to be around the midline - there's so much scarring that it makes it hard to read the scan. I'm trying to contact the radiologist to ask why he couldn't see a need for an MRI biopsy when my two doctors emphasized I should get one. So far I've been extremely lucky that the PCa has been slow-growing and hasn't escaped the capsule (the Axumin scan following the most recent PSA test confirmed this); my doctors have kept a close watch with repeated ultrasound biopsies and HIFUs. (BTW, I tried three times to post this on the regular PCa community but it showed up here instead, so I deeply appreciate your generous replies.)

[j-o-h-n]

ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION. Did i get your attention? If yes, Good.

If you're going to have a biopsy of your prostate make sure they put you under sedation.

In other words.... YOU KNOCK ME OUT DOC!

A word to the wise is sufficient.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 07/11/2019 7:45 PM DST

[kapakahi in reply to j-o-h-n]

I must have had about 7-8 biopsies - all but one were somewhat painful, but only somewhat because my doctor first injected anesthetic (that was the most painful part, like at the dentist), there was no residual pain and I could drive myself to and from the doctor - I gladly accepted the hydrocodone prescription though - the one that was really painful was when I was in an NIH study of MRI-guided biopsies, and they did NOT use anesthetic, and seemed perplexed when I yelled, since I was not accustomed to having THAT much pain in a biopsy

[j-o-h-n in reply to kapakahi]

You're a veteran I guess..... I wasn't offered sedation so when it was all done... I kicked the Urologist in the balls. SO -

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 07/11/2019 8:21 PM DST

[rscic in reply to j-o-h-n]

I had local anesthetic but not sedation .... all went well.

[rscic]

Not necessarily. In an MRI several sequences of images (T1, T2, Contrast, etc.) need to be obtained. If the 1st images were good before failure of the system then only those images that were not obtained need to be done.

[kapakahi in reply to rscic]

thanks - the radiologists seemed to have no problem with combining two images - my concern was with having the result come from two different machines because I knew there could be a problem seeing everything clearly with all the scarring around the prostate - even if the images are perfectly rendered, I'm considering getting a second opinion about the viability of an MRI-guided biopsy since my doctors think it's so important