Unexplained “metal” on X-ray. HELP.

[RollercoasterSpiral]

Hi,

NC as am probably spiralling needlessly. Hope I am…

I’m 46. Just had an X-ray of my hip as I’ve had a decade of issues and discomfort.

The radiographer said they could see a tiny amount of metal. I was in NHS cloth trousers and cotton M&S knickers. They said they could still see something tiny and metal in my abdomen, so I removed my underwear (was still in trousers). “Metal” was still there.

So, now I am fully spiralling. Could this little bit of “metal” be a tumour of some sort? If not - what could it be? If anyone has any insight - good or bad - I’d really appreciate it as Google not helping.

Thank you!!

Depends where it is, but I’m guessing the most likely thing is that you have swallowed something metallic by mistake. If it’s not moved in a few hours, perhaps it is lodged in your intestine somewhere. Tiny and metal might, for example, be a bit of metal foil from a pop-out pill, or some food packaging, or it could be a bit of shot if you’ve had some game to eat recently. Cancer wouldn’t show up as metal.

PS, just a thought…have you been sterilised or had an ectopic pregnancy? A tube clip would show up.

I'm a radiographer. A tumour would not show up as metallic. I have no idea what it is, but I promise it's not cancer - that's just not what that looks like.

Ever had surgery?

I'm thinking metal foil from tablets or food?

Otherwise have you been near Bill Gates recently?

Thank you so much for replying.

No ectopic pregnancy or sterilisation, but I guess the accidental eating of something is a possibility…

I think the radiographer freaked me out by being extra vague and cagey.

I’ve had my appendix out (abroad, emergency) so could it be that?

Honestly, I feel a bit mad with where my brain is going.

@Pixiedust1234 😂😂 Thank you - I needed that!

I remember watching a docu style programme about things found in the human body and saw about a woman that was complaining about sudden chest pains for weeks. She was told she was hysterical etc after blood tests all came back perfect and eventually got an X-ray. There was a tiny hair like section of metal in her chest. To be specific, lodged in her heart muscle. When they operated to remove it they found it was a 1 inch wire thread from a bbq cleaning brush. The woman explained that yes, the pain has started a few days after she attended a bbq. They think the wire fell off the brush and remained hidden on the rack. Got stock to a burger. Then she accidentally ingested it and swallowed it, and it migrated through her into it settled in her heart. She made a full recovery. It's AMAZING what we can accidentally ingest.

Op, it's likely to be something totally innocent like others have said. And metal shows up VERY different to biological material on an X-ray.

Okay, thank you @roopeedoopeedooo that’s really helpful in calming me.

I will try and stop googling.

There is a possibility a fragment of metal from that surgery is lodged somewhere, or from ingesting it. Highly unlikely if not impossible that a tumour would show up as metal

@ScottishBeth THANK YOU!! I think the confusion that the radiographer displayed just upped my anxiety. I’m generally really chill about medical stuff but something about how confused he was unsettled me.

I really really appreciate you posting. Xxx

Cannot thank you all enough for comments. Calmed me down so much.

Have you been abducted by aliens?👽

Don't suppose you have an IUD you forgot about?

My bet would be on the surgery.

Do you have any fillings, OP? You may have one less than you think you should have. That could show up...

@Whatwouldscullydo Hmmm….I am very tired today….inexplicably……🤪

@Dexterdoo That is genius! But no, impressively filling-free given my sweet tooth.

It won't be a tumour! They don't show up as metal looking and the radiographer wouldn't have said anything about it being metal - if they see something they don't like they get very vague and really dont say much.

Also, lightheartedly, are you sure youre not the reincarnation of this guy ?! 😁

Metal clips are used for appendicectomies in some places. If it’s somewhere on the lower right it may be that, although would have thought a radiographer would spot that. The radiologist report should be more helpful.

@Keroppi HA!! Scared by how much I relate….

@Greybeardy Thats what I thought too - surely they’d know that. But perhaps as it was done in another country it’s not familiar. Yes, hoping the report will clear it all up and it ends up being something simple like eating a cheesecake so fast I inhaled the case 😋

OP I had an MRI a few weeks ago and they stopped it part way through and said there was something metal showing round my neck area. All I had on was the hospital gown and my knickers. I got off the table and they looked and looked but there was nothing. I got back in the machine again and it was OK. They surmised that it might have been a tiny metal fragment from where they snip the nose strip out of the masks that had somehow got stuck to me or to the gown. Might have been something similar?