Suspected brain tumour. CT and MRI scan questions.

[VivaLeThrustBadger]

I'm just wondering what the benefit is? Is an MRI more in depth than a ct scan? If the ct scan is clear does that mean its not a brain tumour? Or is there a chance the MRI may find one?

It's my dad, not me.

An MRI gives a much better image of the brain than a CT scan, so the Drs want to check your dads brain further to find out whats going on

Ok, thought that may be the case. Looks like we've not got the all clear then yet. Thanks.

Oh sorry to hear this Viva.

I hope it is clear. I think MRI scanning shows up different sorts of things iyswim, maybe not a tumour, maybe other sorts of activity?

Have they given you any differential diagnosis ideas?

No other ideas. They've ruled out a uti.

He's got very sudden, very severe memory problems/totally confused.

He was fine on Saturday, I saw him he was asking me about my new uni course, etc. then on Sunday doesn't know me, doesn't know step mum, doesn't know he's in a hospital.

Dr asked him today if he could tell her his date of birth. Yes he said and nodded. She pressed him again for the actual date and he to,d her it was six months after he was born. He doesn't even understand the questions.

I mean he didn't get the date wrong by six months he actually said "it's six months after I was born"

Oh gosh how frightening

It sounds like dementia but kind of extreme.

I wish I knew something about this sort of thing. You must be so anxious.

Worried out my mind.

Google suggests that sudden onset like this can be caused by head injury (not applicable), dehydration (I asked about this and the Drs don't think so but will start a drip this evening), stroke or brain tumour.

I wonder if maybe he's had a stroke? No signs such as droopy face or slurred speech but he does have high blood pressure.

Mri is clearer than CT.

I had a CT scan in hospital last year, it showed enlarged blood vessels in the frontal lobe of my brain. I was sent to the neuro surgical ward as it was reasonable to assume this could be a tumour. I then had an mri and it showed no tumour, brain swelling was due to autoimmune disease. So the difference in clarity is very significant in terms of diagnosis.

Hope your dad is better soon, the doctors and staff in the neurosurgical ward were amazing so he is in the best place.

Hugs to you and your relatives, it is so hard when someone is taken I'll so suddenly and severely.

Sofaking, he has vasculitis which is an autoimmune thing so maybe its swelling due to that. Though I've just googled and it says its a medical emergency as swelling can cut off blood supply to parts of the brain and cause permanent damage.

Which is worrying me as he's been like this since Sunday and there seems to be no urgency over the MRI. Hopefully should be done this week.?...

My brother had similar symptoms and we all worried about a brain tumour but it turned out his thyroid had packed in. He's on medication now and totally fine. I hope your dad will be ok.

Boofted, glad you're brother is ok now. Will ask the Drs about thyroid tomorrow.

Viva I think it can be hard to get a slot, I walked to hospital and there was a portable mri in the grounds. They do fit people in quickly for emergencies, the next day for me when I was transferred, so perhaps a good sign if he's waiting as they do not think he is at risk?

I was put on steroids and improved greatly in a short time, I hope the same is true of you dad and that it happens soon.

MRI shows everything - all structures and anything abnormal.

CT looks at slices at depths the tech/radiographer/Dr chooses. It's difficult to explain but when I did this at uni we had pictures of a clear plastic helix with a 5p piece in it half way up.

The helix was marked at 1cm heights. The CT scan results were at the levels of the markings and showed just clear plastic until it got to where the 5p was, there the 5p was clear as anything.

Sorry not very helpful without the pics.

OK this pic is not what I was talking about but similar - the coins are buried but you do not see stones, soil, worms etc - just what is at the depth of the coins.

www.swinnovation.co.uk/2012/07/southwest-engineering-technology-reveals-secrets-of-roman-coins/

That's really helpful Sashh thanks. Fingers crossed he gets the MRI today.

Good luck for today, Viva. Just wanted to say my friend's dad had similar situation, and was misdiagnosed with UTI etc etc in hospital, but it did turn out to be a small stroke. He didn't have any of the obvious one sided/droopy etc symptoms either.

That suddeness of onset would make me think 'stroke' rather than 'tumour', tbh, but I am not a medic.

Hope he gets the MRI and you get some answers xx

hope all ok, my brain tumour first found on a ct clearly but all follow ups now mri as more detail but yes can be seen on ct so really fingers crossed for you all xxx

This must be a horrible situation for you both.

I'm sorry if this is completely off the mark, but have you googled 'Transient Global Amnesia'?

I was wondering if he'd had a stroke too.

Even if does turn out to be a tumour, it might not be malignant.

I do apologise if these suggestions are irrelevant. I just know how it's so easy to assume the worst. Horrible waiting for a diagnosis.

Thanks for the messages but it is cancer and quite badly spread. They've said they can't do anything.

so sorry to hear this Viva. thoughts with you and your family x

Oh Viva that's bad news, I'm really sorry to hear that.

I'm so sorry, Viva. You must be in total shock.

Really sorry to hear this Viva.

Oh no Very sorry to hear that.

I am so sorry Viva. My Dad had a braintumour that wasn't apparent on a CT scan but showed up on an MRI. It was like a web growing all over his brain. It started shutting down different sections of his brain but it was a blessing in some ways as he had no real emotional reaction to his diagnosis as that went quite early on. There was nothing they could do for him either. He didn't really suffer much but it is a horrible thing. I send positive vibes for your family.