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Dimensions in scans?
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Dimensions in scans?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Dimensions in scans?

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    • December 23, 2017 at 5:25 am
    MovingOn
    Participant

      Scans (CT or MRI) usually show two dimensions for a tumor. Is it possible that a tumor would be changing in the z-axis and the scan wouldn’t report it?

      Here is my situation: I have a swollen lymph node behind my ear which has tested positive for melanoma (recurrence). In September it looked like an acorn attached to my head and my scan showed it’s dimension as 10mmx14mm. Since then I’ve had 4 Pembro infusions. My latest scan still shows the dimensions at 10mmx14mm. However, I know the tumor is small because I used to be able to sit my sunglasses on it and now it’s completely flat behind my ear.

      Hopefully my next scan will come up with a smaller size. The tumor in my parotid grew. Hopefully that is pseudoprogression. And I have two new swollen lymph nodes (neck and clavicle areas). Next Pembro infusion is Jan 4th (and also going to meet with a surgeon to see if there are options to consider in that realm).

       

      All in all I’m still in a good mood for the holidays!

      Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

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        • December 26, 2017 at 1:19 am
        doragsda
        Participant

          I believe that when I've looked at my wife's scans (all MRI) they actually have images from all 3 dimensions.   They may be reporting the two largest dimensions on yours.    On my wife's, they usually only report a single dimension,  I've assumed the largest but maybe they report two if the lesion is not symmetrical.   I did get into a bit of a disagreement with one doctor who told me her 24 mm tumor was twice the size of her 12mm tumor.   I explaned to him that a 24mm tumor would be 8 times the size of a 12mm tumor, as it is a 3 dimensional object and the volume increases as the cube of the radius.   I don't think he ever understood what I was explaining to him.

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