MRI or CT?

[user1478188491]

I have the option to pay privately for an abdominal CT scan with contrast or an Abdominal MRI and I am wondering if someone can tell if if the MRI will show me what I want to rule out please.

CT scan has radiation risk and we are trying to conceive, so I keep having to put it off as the ct scanner is only every 2 weeks which doesn’t always fit with my periods and I want to be sure I’m not pregnant before having the abdominal ct scan. Also more expensive coming in at £700 for 2 body parts (pelvic and abdomen)

MRI is nearer, I can have it any time and as soon as a few days away from ringing up. No radiation risk.

But my question is will the MRI tell me what I am looking to rule out? I have ongoing intermittent abdominal pain with loose stools.

I’ve had a QFit stool test done that came back negative, so with this in mind they won’t do a colonoscopy as no other red flag symptoms. They have said it’s likely IBS.

I’ve had a Calprotectin stool test done twice with both negative results.

Coeliac and H Pylori stool test both negative.

Stool tests for Enteric PCR panel - Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Verotoxin (inc.E.coli O157), Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium - all negative.

Endoscopy nothing sinister just showed mild non erosive gastritis and oesophagitis treated with omeprazole. They also took biopsies for h pylori and celiac again negative.

Abdominal ultrasound all normal - Kidneys, pancreas (from what they could see there were parts they couldn’t visualise), gall bladder, liver normal but very mildly fatty.

I am mainly worried about bowel cancer, or cancer of the liver, pancreas etc.

Will an MRI be sufficient to view these organs?

Any info or advice greatly appreciated thank you in advance 🙌🏻

I'll be blunt, these are questions for a consultant and I don't think it's wise to be trying to shop for scans and guess at tests on your own (or with internet random advice).

Case in point - if your concern is bowel cancer then neither MRI or CT is reliable. For reference, you'd need an MRCP for liver/pancreas, not an abdominal MRI or CT.

The only way to be moderately confident about ruling out bowel cancer is colonoscopy. It offers the best images, they can remove any small growths, and take biopsies. It's very difficult to see colorectal abnormalities on a scan and you can easily find yourself in a situation where no abnormalities are visible on a scan but are very obvious and serious on colonoscopy.

You'd be better seeking a private consultation and/or private colonoscopy than chucking your money at random scans. Colonoscopy is the gold standard test for bowel symptoms, but it's still not infallible because some cancers are very difficult to spot even with a camera.

Agree, there is.no point having random tests without specific guidance and support from a specialist and referral from a Gp to oversee feedback. Who are “they” and how were you referred?

Sorry I forgot to add I have had a referral from radiology for a CT scan with contrast of the abdomen.
however I was querying the mri option as stated my reasons above

Assuming they know your history take advice of radiographer.

if there's any chance you could be pregnant they would do a test before the scan - this would be a completely routine thing for women of childbearing age. There's no point in doing a test that won't give useful information so you're better off taking the advice of whoever has the whole picture. If it turned out on the day that you were pregnant (not sure I'd be trying though if I were worried about having a significant illness, but it's probably reassuring that your consultant doesn't seem to think there's anything terribly worrying) then there would follow some brain scratching between your consultant and the radiologist, based on the likelihood of serious illness and the relative risks and benefits of each modality in the context of pregnancy (MRI is also usually avoided in early pregnancy where possible).

Ok well my experience is that MRI produces superior images to CT, but both can fail to identify cancer. If that is your stated concern then spending your money on a scan instead of a camera test is a waste of time, regardless of whether you've managed to get a referral to pay for a scan.

Radiology cannot refer you for a colonoscopy or make a clinical judgement about whether a camera test would be better. They can only refer you to radiology, it doesn't mean it's the best option.

If you spoke to a gastroenterologist, they would tell you that colonoscopy is the gold standard for bowel cancer, inflammation etc, MRI is in second place, and CT with contrast is in last place.

I will repeat - it is entirely possible for a CT or MRI scan to appear clear but for bowel cancer to be found on colonoscopy. Hence why if you were being investigated for possible bowel cancer via NHS they would perform a colonoscopy.