› Forums › General Melanoma Community › CT Scan results- MRI V CT images of spine.
- This topic has 24 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by
Mark_DC.
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:01 pm
Any help with this would be appreciated. I have spinal problems at multiple levels.
Neck especially c4 /c5. Large prolapsed disc at T10/11 and T12 also multiple problems lumbar region including L5/S1 . THis has been imaged by MRI at intervals and has remained stable.for well over a year.
Just had CT scan results-as part of ipi nivo treatment. Examiner is indicating melanoma spread ( CT with contrast ) to T10/11, T12 and L5/ S1. THe last spinal MRI was May 2016. The previous CT with contrast was late September 2016.
Is there any chance that my disogenic disease has been mis- identified as melanoma ?
Which is the better imaging technique for spine ?
Is melanoma more likely to spread to areasof the spine which already have issues ?
Struggling to take on board the latest- with new disease identified in skull, lungs, groin, pelvis and spine
Probably clutching at straws…but thought I would ask anyway.
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:07 pm
I honestly couldn't say one way or the other whether your known disc issues could look like metastasis on a CT. However, I have read and been told by my docs, that MRI's are better at imaging soft tissues, and CT's are better for bones. CT's are much faster and less expensive, so they are most often used for a "rough" look at your insides. If something seen there gives your doc cause to order further imaging, I imagine an MRI or ultrasound would be ordered.
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:07 pm
I honestly couldn't say one way or the other whether your known disc issues could look like metastasis on a CT. However, I have read and been told by my docs, that MRI's are better at imaging soft tissues, and CT's are better for bones. CT's are much faster and less expensive, so they are most often used for a "rough" look at your insides. If something seen there gives your doc cause to order further imaging, I imagine an MRI or ultrasound would be ordered.
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- January 27, 2017 at 5:07 pm
I honestly couldn't say one way or the other whether your known disc issues could look like metastasis on a CT. However, I have read and been told by my docs, that MRI's are better at imaging soft tissues, and CT's are better for bones. CT's are much faster and less expensive, so they are most often used for a "rough" look at your insides. If something seen there gives your doc cause to order further imaging, I imagine an MRI or ultrasound would be ordered.
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Sorry to hear about your latest scan results.I also have spinal problems at multiple levels and have always had MRI's to help diagnose, treat, and follow up for changes to discs and other structures in my back. I've never had a CT scan for my spine problems. I would doubt the disc problems looking the same as melanoma but I'm not a doctor. I've also had a discogram that looks close up at each disc and the dye shows the disc tears that can't be seen in detail on MRI. Were you seeing an Orthopedic Surgeon or Neurosurgeon for your spine problems?
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Sorry to hear about your latest scan results.I also have spinal problems at multiple levels and have always had MRI's to help diagnose, treat, and follow up for changes to discs and other structures in my back. I've never had a CT scan for my spine problems. I would doubt the disc problems looking the same as melanoma but I'm not a doctor. I've also had a discogram that looks close up at each disc and the dye shows the disc tears that can't be seen in detail on MRI. Were you seeing an Orthopedic Surgeon or Neurosurgeon for your spine problems?
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Sorry to hear about your latest scan results.I also have spinal problems at multiple levels and have always had MRI's to help diagnose, treat, and follow up for changes to discs and other structures in my back. I've never had a CT scan for my spine problems. I would doubt the disc problems looking the same as melanoma but I'm not a doctor. I've also had a discogram that looks close up at each disc and the dye shows the disc tears that can't be seen in detail on MRI. Were you seeing an Orthopedic Surgeon or Neurosurgeon for your spine problems?
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Thanks for your replies. I was being monitored by a specialist spinal surgeon, He said that given the level of compression seen ob the MRI and nerve conduction study results my body was coping well. Surgery for the t10/11 problems would have been extensive andnot easy access. I wasa not keen so opted for monitoring with rapid access to the clinic if any red flag symptoms occurred.
Guess it is something I need to ask about at the next clinic visit.
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Thanks for your replies. I was being monitored by a specialist spinal surgeon, He said that given the level of compression seen ob the MRI and nerve conduction study results my body was coping well. Surgery for the t10/11 problems would have been extensive andnot easy access. I wasa not keen so opted for monitoring with rapid access to the clinic if any red flag symptoms occurred.
Guess it is something I need to ask about at the next clinic visit.
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- January 27, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Thanks for your replies. I was being monitored by a specialist spinal surgeon, He said that given the level of compression seen ob the MRI and nerve conduction study results my body was coping well. Surgery for the t10/11 problems would have been extensive andnot easy access. I wasa not keen so opted for monitoring with rapid access to the clinic if any red flag symptoms occurred.
Guess it is something I need to ask about at the next clinic visit.
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- January 27, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Hello, Anon,
I've struggled with spine problems while battling metastatic Melanoma for over 4-years. I've had numerous CT scans which all show pretty detailed images of my spine and the main defect noted on every radiology report. But when I specifically was trying to solve the issue of pain from the defect they used MRI imaging, so I do believe that is considered superior in diagnosing these disc issues. I also will share my crazy success story regarding the back pain. My doc had prescribed low-dose steroids to ward off side-effects from Yervoy, and the anti-inflammatory properties of the Prednisone magically relieved the back pain, and what's really crazy is now, almost three years later the pain has never returned to nearly the crippling level it was before. My doctors have been just as surprised as me about this so I don't think its common, but worth sharing. Sorry I cannot be of more help in whether there is any mis-diagnosis, but given your comments, systemic treatments would be the only way to address the issues.
Gary
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- January 27, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Hi Gary,
Steroids are pretty powerful anti inflammatories and I too have had spectacular relief from a well placed injection on damaged spinal ligaments many years ago.
Yes, you are right systemic treatment is the way to go..but was hoping for something positive 12 weeks in on IPI Nivo.It just feels like the bad news keeps on coming with new sites of disease and growth in the previously identified areas. Doc did mention pseudo progression and further scans in 4-6 weeks but am struggling to feel optimistic tonight…but tomorrow is another day..
Long may your back pain be banished- along with any other pains come to think of it.
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- January 27, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Hi Gary,
Steroids are pretty powerful anti inflammatories and I too have had spectacular relief from a well placed injection on damaged spinal ligaments many years ago.
Yes, you are right systemic treatment is the way to go..but was hoping for something positive 12 weeks in on IPI Nivo.It just feels like the bad news keeps on coming with new sites of disease and growth in the previously identified areas. Doc did mention pseudo progression and further scans in 4-6 weeks but am struggling to feel optimistic tonight…but tomorrow is another day..
Long may your back pain be banished- along with any other pains come to think of it.
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- January 27, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Hi Gary,
Steroids are pretty powerful anti inflammatories and I too have had spectacular relief from a well placed injection on damaged spinal ligaments many years ago.
Yes, you are right systemic treatment is the way to go..but was hoping for something positive 12 weeks in on IPI Nivo.It just feels like the bad news keeps on coming with new sites of disease and growth in the previously identified areas. Doc did mention pseudo progression and further scans in 4-6 weeks but am struggling to feel optimistic tonight…but tomorrow is another day..
Long may your back pain be banished- along with any other pains come to think of it.
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- January 27, 2017 at 9:44 pm
Yes, the sad reality is immunotherapies still only effectively treat less than half the population. I too have been a mostly non-responder but did get a year of partial response when ipi/nivo was also combined simultaneously with radiation. But alas, I have progressed again and am trying to figure out next steps. Best to you in the battle. Perhaps giving more time for the combo to work is a good course of action for now. It's a tough call when their are so few other options, mostly trials, with even less hard data to go on.
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- January 27, 2017 at 9:44 pm
Yes, the sad reality is immunotherapies still only effectively treat less than half the population. I too have been a mostly non-responder but did get a year of partial response when ipi/nivo was also combined simultaneously with radiation. But alas, I have progressed again and am trying to figure out next steps. Best to you in the battle. Perhaps giving more time for the combo to work is a good course of action for now. It's a tough call when their are so few other options, mostly trials, with even less hard data to go on.
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- January 27, 2017 at 10:07 pm
So true….Silly part is don't feel too bad and have convinced myself that I have very subtle vitiligo around various pigmented spots on upper arms and chest which felt cheerful until given the scan results. , and side effects requiring steroids seemed hopeful too. Just need to recalibrate my expectations and deal with the urge to scratch too much in the meantime….
Will query the evidence of melanoma spine later….just interesting to know if others have been in the same shoes,
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- January 27, 2017 at 10:07 pm
So true….Silly part is don't feel too bad and have convinced myself that I have very subtle vitiligo around various pigmented spots on upper arms and chest which felt cheerful until given the scan results. , and side effects requiring steroids seemed hopeful too. Just need to recalibrate my expectations and deal with the urge to scratch too much in the meantime….
Will query the evidence of melanoma spine later….just interesting to know if others have been in the same shoes,
-
- January 27, 2017 at 10:07 pm
So true….Silly part is don't feel too bad and have convinced myself that I have very subtle vitiligo around various pigmented spots on upper arms and chest which felt cheerful until given the scan results. , and side effects requiring steroids seemed hopeful too. Just need to recalibrate my expectations and deal with the urge to scratch too much in the meantime….
Will query the evidence of melanoma spine later….just interesting to know if others have been in the same shoes,
-
- January 27, 2017 at 9:44 pm
Yes, the sad reality is immunotherapies still only effectively treat less than half the population. I too have been a mostly non-responder but did get a year of partial response when ipi/nivo was also combined simultaneously with radiation. But alas, I have progressed again and am trying to figure out next steps. Best to you in the battle. Perhaps giving more time for the combo to work is a good course of action for now. It's a tough call when their are so few other options, mostly trials, with even less hard data to go on.
-
- January 27, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Hello, Anon,
I've struggled with spine problems while battling metastatic Melanoma for over 4-years. I've had numerous CT scans which all show pretty detailed images of my spine and the main defect noted on every radiology report. But when I specifically was trying to solve the issue of pain from the defect they used MRI imaging, so I do believe that is considered superior in diagnosing these disc issues. I also will share my crazy success story regarding the back pain. My doc had prescribed low-dose steroids to ward off side-effects from Yervoy, and the anti-inflammatory properties of the Prednisone magically relieved the back pain, and what's really crazy is now, almost three years later the pain has never returned to nearly the crippling level it was before. My doctors have been just as surprised as me about this so I don't think its common, but worth sharing. Sorry I cannot be of more help in whether there is any mis-diagnosis, but given your comments, systemic treatments would be the only way to address the issues.
Gary
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- January 27, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Hello, Anon,
I've struggled with spine problems while battling metastatic Melanoma for over 4-years. I've had numerous CT scans which all show pretty detailed images of my spine and the main defect noted on every radiology report. But when I specifically was trying to solve the issue of pain from the defect they used MRI imaging, so I do believe that is considered superior in diagnosing these disc issues. I also will share my crazy success story regarding the back pain. My doc had prescribed low-dose steroids to ward off side-effects from Yervoy, and the anti-inflammatory properties of the Prednisone magically relieved the back pain, and what's really crazy is now, almost three years later the pain has never returned to nearly the crippling level it was before. My doctors have been just as surprised as me about this so I don't think its common, but worth sharing. Sorry I cannot be of more help in whether there is any mis-diagnosis, but given your comments, systemic treatments would be the only way to address the issues.
Gary
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