Why would a doctor ask for an MRI both with and without contrast to see if I have just a fibroid or if there is an ovarian mass as well?

[starrynight5626]

I had both a CT and ultrasound and they couldn't be 100% sure if I had a mass on my ovary or if it is a pedunculated fibroid. My doctor wrote to the OB/GYN and her response was this:

I would recommend a pelvic MRI with and without contrast. It tends to be much better at delineating pelvic structures and her ultrasound and CT scan are non diagnostic. Feel free to re e-consult gynecology once the MRI is back if necessary.

I would think you'd just want to do with.

[Emcee71]

I guess so it's so they can compare the two?

[starrynight5626 in reply to Emcee71]

It just seems like with contrast would give the best results?

[Emcee71 in reply to starrynight5626]

It won't be 2 appointments, I don't think. I had MRI and CT scans -both were with and without. They will probably hook you up to the dye, run images, then allow the dye to go through your veins and run more images. I had this with my 2nd CT this morning.

[Dales-Rambler]

Hello Starrynight5626

I'm a bit late to respond, as I've only just seen your post.

It's not best practice to just perform a contrast enhanced MRI scan on its own, without first doing some sequences of scans without the contrast. Each mini scan (known as a sequence) gets a certain type of information from the body, and these are used to help with the interpretation and evaluation of the subsequent conttast scans.

It's different from CT scans, which are usually with OR without contrast (due to the differing physics involved in each type of. scanning method).

Hope that helps to clarify things.

Best wishes

Sally

[Goodgirl98]

I have come to understand that everything related to scan is up to the radiologist doctor's interpretation. So having a couple of differing scans helps to come up with better diagnostics, else there might be too many possibilities to assume.

I recently did a chest x ray as part of yearly yearly master check that showed a slight blunting typical of pleural effusion. The first thing even my regular oncologist (of 2 years) asked is some earlier X-rays. I didn't have the copies, so he made me do ultrasound to rule out liquid buildup. So while I do not understand your specific case, if your budget and time permits, do the scans.