Advice on scans.

[RachH20]

Hi everyone,

I am just wondering if anyone knows for definite, does a full body MRI scan include the brain?

The radiologist said it partly looks at the brain but not in depth, my oncologist said it doesn’t look at the brain even though it’s head to knee the scan. Online says it does? I’m very confused as to whether my brain is being looked at or not. Oncologist says she won’t do brain scan without symptoms.

Thanks x

[NPmary]

My guess is that the radiologist is not using contrast to do the scan because a brain mri with contrast is very good at looking at mets; or maybe because it is full body it just doesn't spend enough time dedicated to the brain (guessing here).

Where do you know that you have mets?

It sounds like the doctor is looking for possible mets elsewhere.

Many docs would order a PET scan for this purpose.

My questions for the doc would be what's the purpose for the test and why is this your choice.

The standard of care is that doctors don't do brain scans if you don't present with symptoms.

Best wishes for you, hope you find answers and peace of mind.

Let us know how it goes and how you are. ❤ Mary

[RachH20 in reply to NPmary]

Thanks for your reply, I have bone mets only very small amount of disease at present but only newly diagnosed too, august 2021.

My full body MRI is done every 3 months as standard and she chose full body MRI because she thinks it was better for looking closely at the bones/nerves etc.

Makes me feel uneasy that the brain is not routinely checked too though.

Rachel x

[Kayaker82 in reply to RachH20]

My oncologist said the same thing. Symptoms that she would order a brain scan for would be a headache that wakes you out of normal sleep. Shortly after that discussion I experienced a very unusual experience with my vision. I went to my primary care physician explaining what had happened and she ordered a brain scan due to the fact that I have metastasis. The brain scan showed nothing suspicious. I am learning to just go and live my life and if something unusual pops up I will deal with it when that happens! Best wishes to you.

[NPmary in reply to RachH20]

I understand the brain is not routinely looked at for anyone. Good news is that there is that the percentage of people with MBC who get brain mets is very small. I hope you are progression free for many years to come. ❤️🌺❤️

[8576]

I don't know but it seems to me you would get the definitive answer from the scan department. Either the technician or doctor who reads the scans.

Cheers, June S.

[ndastrogal]

I have a "full body" PET scan every quarter. It only goes to the neck. I also have a brain MRI. Two separate types of scans. I have liver, bone and brain mets. When I first presented symptoms of brain mets (headaches, vision) he ordered the MRI.

[1711JPD]

Hi. I have PET scans quarterly and brain MRI annually. My onc also said brain MRI only if symptomatic (after initial one when I was first diagnosed with MBC). I told her that I was really stressing about not knowing if I had mets to the brain and she agreed we’d do a brain MRI annually. I hope this helps. Best wishes to all.

[RachH20]

Thanks everyone, I have bone only mets at present and did have an MRI brain when initially diagnosed, I think I will speak to oncologist about having these once a year. X

[LadyKatarina]

I was dx de novo with a brain met--and no other mets (only the primary tumor) not even in lymph nodes. I had craniotomy and follow-up SRS. The brain MRI's take about 45 min to scan--using contrast and scanning at much more frequent intervals than regular scans. For the first 4 years they scanned every 3 months at first, then slowly moved out to every 6 months. Since I am E-pos (most brain mets are HER 2 pos) they say all the "seeds" that would have been with the initial brain tumor have had time to "sprout" and it would be very rare for me to get more. The radiation oncologist told me that mets in the brain can get growth spurts and really grow fast--so I don't think an annul brain MRI for brain mets will help you very much if you actually get them. Continue to watch for symptoms and ask lots of questions. Actually, I have never heard of anyone getting body MRI's for routine following. I get PET scans for the body. Best to you!

[Hazelgreen]

I have extensive mets (bones, lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, skin) which are evaluated regularly through CT scans (every 2 to 6 mos). I have had MRIs and PET scans, but never a brain scan; I am pleased about that. Unless a person has serious symptoms (such as blinding headaches, double vision, or signs of dementia), it seems rather foolish to me (a psychologist) to subject such an important organ as the brain to unnecessary scans, simply to reassure someone that she doesn't have a metastasis there.