Question:
<< If the liver lesion is indeed a metastisis, it will be even harder to forgive and forget.>> I imagine that’s very true. I wish I had some additional wisdom on this subject. Without knowing more facts though, I can’t comment on why they found the tumors only after re-interpretation of the CT taken 6 months before. I suggest though that you call the radiology department and ask the radiologist(s) involved this question. This must be a very diffcult time for you. I sincerely hope that everything turns out well though and that there is no metastasis. Hang in there! Sandra
Response:
Has anyone here gone to Mayo Clinic for diagnosis/treatment of SLE or related problems? My hubby has a very rare tumor in his pancreas that doctors in Denver couldn’t see on the the CT scan or diagnose based on lab work. We went to Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ and they looked at the same films (taken 6 months ago) and saw not one, but 2 tumors. We are returning to Scottsdale in the near future to have the tumors removed (we hope), but I am wondering if it would be worthwhile for me to get a "tune up" while I’m there. My hubby’s surgery will involve his liver and pancreas and will be quite serious, so I don’t want to be away from him more than necessary – but his experience makes me wonder what has been messed up in my care. He was supposedly seen at the best hospital in town, and by one of the best endocrinologists. Even the radiologist who missed the tumors on the CT scan was supposed to be very good. Sorry – I’m venting off topic. I’ve been so wrapped up in my husbands health problems that I haven’t been to this site in many months. I apologize for hopping right in with this question, but if any of you have gone to Mayo Clinic, especially in Scottsdale, I’d love to hear about it. Gretchen Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
Response:
Since you say that there was six months between the time the original CT’s were done and the time your husband was seen at the Mayo Clinic, it’s entirely possible that the second tumor wasn’t very visible before. As the wife of a radiologist I can tell you that when they look at CT’s, what they’re seeing is a mixture of light and shadows. To make it even more difficult, there are a lot of normal variants, meaning that there can be differences from one person to the next that don’t necessarily indicate an abnormality. Tumors at a very early stage may not be easy to recognize. Of course, in retrospect, once it’s grown large enough to be easily visible, it’s easy to go back to the original CT and note where it was. At that point, something that might have before appeared to be a normal variant, may then be able to be pinpointed as having been a tumor. That’s why when there’s any abnormality or the doctor isn’t totally sure, he generally recommends additional views to be taken either right away or in six months (depending on the situation). This kind of situation is more common than you might think, and doesn’t in any way mean that the original doctors looking at your CT were being negligent or weren’t as good as you thought. Still, so far as having a second opinion on your lupus at the Mayo Clinic. If it were me and we were going to be there anyway, I’d definitely want to do this. In fact, I did do this with my daughter as I recently had her seen at NIH for a second opinion. (There’s never any harm in another opinion.) I did let her doctor know in advance though, and he helped me set it up. I also reassured him that I wouldn’t effect any changes in her therapy without further consulting him. It worked out quite well. Sandra
Response:
My husband (a radiologist/body imaging specialist) adds that CT is not the most sensitive means of visualizing tumors. He says that it’s very difficult to see 1-2 cm tumors on CT, and that there are many artifacts that can get in the way of visualization. He says that most people seem to think that interpreting CT is a very straight forward process, but that it’s really very complicated and difficult. In retrospect, you might be able to go back and note where the tumors were on the first CT; however, when looking at them for the first time, not everything is so obvious. Sandra
Response:
Sandra, As always you have very helpful information. I know that medicine is not an exact science, and I appreciate how hard x-rays can be to interpret. However, the films that Mayo Clinic looked at are the very same films that were done here 6 months ago. They were not repeated at Mayo, only re-interpreted. There have been a long series of problems with the hospital (supposedly a very good one)that have made us less understanding than if this were the only issue. Everyone in the medical field makes mistakes, but when one of those mistakes costs precious time in diagnosis, and causes someone to be hospitalized and go through unnecessary, uncomfortable tests, it’s hard not to be angry. If the liver lesion is indeed a metastisis, it will be even harder to forgive and forget. However, the missed tumor forced us to go to Mayo, where they have more experience in this rare surgery, so it may turn out to be a blessing. Our experience in Scottsdale was very good. They are incredibly efficient and knowledgable. Unfortunately, we just found out that the Scottsdale clinic doesn’t participate with BC/BS. They are paying about 50%, so now we have to go to Rochester, MN, where they do participate. Gretchen Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
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