Got one MRI report

[lstrl]

And it actually states on there that there are no abnormalities. I guess that radiologist just skipped over all the abnormal stuff that's shown up for years, even before MS came on to ruin my life. It did go on later to state no chances from my last MRI, but in getting there, the grammar was terrible! There's nowhere near as much detail as from other hospitals' MRI reports I've read either. Ok, so clearly my symptoms aren't coming from the brain, but if I can't even trust the radiologist after reading that report (the one from last year was almost just as bad), how do I know the person looking at it is even qualified? I also can't find a radiologist's name on the report anywhere, so I have no way of knowing if it's the same crappy one as last year or if they're all that bad.

The people never sent me my report for the T-spine MRI, so I have no idea what that says. Since I haven't gotten a call, I'm assuming nothing came up, but I'm so frustrated. I specifically requested two reports and they only sent the one, so now I'm waiting even longer to see all of my results. Then again, if it's as bad as the brain report, it's a waste for me to even look at it. I've never had a T-spine MRI before though.

Since I didn't get a call, I'm assuming that report showed nothing enhancing. That terrible PA will have a field day with this since he already doesn't believe me. I know there's active inflammation somewhere though, and if it wasn't caught on the MRI, then they're looking in the wrong spot. He will take it as I'm exaggerating though. I'm ready to give up. I swear, they screw up everything with me and just assume everything is perfect. If this is perfect, I certainly don't even want to find out what those of you with actual problems are going through

[mjan]

First of all, I am truly sorry for ALL you are going through, but not feeling validated is tough to take, I know.

Try not to get too out of sorts with this last MRI. Yes, some radiologists can get it wrong, or are not experts, but it is ultimately up to your neurologist. Is yours a MS neuro?

And yes, if the PA cannot find some evidence then they may just seem to have a closed mind to you. Not sure what has been said to you in the past, but you FEEL that this person doesn't believe you? Or your symptoms? Not sure what your symptoms are now.

You said you've had MS for awhile. And yes, you can have symptoms, signs of inflammation and not have it necessarily show on MRI. Again, its your exam, and validating your symptoms getting relief for those symptoms that is important as I see it.

I always pick up the paper copy of my MRI. That way I am aware of where I stand before hearing or seeing my neuro. I keep them in a file as well. Can you get your own copy?

And lastly, did you have a MRI of your cervical spine done?

Keep us informed hon, and know that again, its between you and your neuro. Hopefully you have a positive experience with your neuro and they are trained in MS.

Warmly, Jan

[pennstater]

When a radiologist report is non-detailed, it stinks. Don't be afraid to ask your neuro to walk thru the MRI itself, not using the reports.

As far as symptoms, not everything shows on an MRI. If your neuro doesn't diva thorough exam and treat your symptoms, it may be time to find a new one. I know you are in the process of SSDI, so make sure you review your medical file and at least verify that your self reported symptoms were documented.

Sorry to hear it has been a tough experience. Hope you feel better.

[onlyairfare]

Usually you are entitled to copies of your medical records, and that includes MRI images (can be put on a CD so you have the pictures) as well as the written reports. If you don't have those, you might want to request them, because if you have your own copies you can review them with other doctors if you move or seek a second opinion.

I have never had any of my imaging read by anyone other than a radiologist, and the name of the radiologist should be on the report. This would usually be required by the insurance company that pays the bill, and also by state regulations regarding the practice of medicine, and hospital staff privileges for affiliated radiology groups.

MRI and X-ray images are after all just shadow pictures and they are subject to individual interpretation; radiologists are also human and can make mistakes. I have had different doctors look at my same MRI images and come to different conclusions as to whether I had "innumerable lesions" or "relatively light burden of disease." One of my neurologists, an "MD specialist," missed the fact that in addition to MS I also had a fairly large brain tumor.

Most people in health care professions want to do a good job and help you, but it can be easy for you to get lost in the shuffle, and problems overlooked. I wouldn't say "No news is good news." I get the reports and CD's myself and review them with my doctors.

It sounds like you would feel reassured if you got your own reports and images, and if they aren't sent/given to you automatically, then call, write or go to the office again to get them!

[Pipes123]

I would get a copy of the reports and the images on cd of every study that was done. I would also get the name of the radiologist. You don't know how much experience that person has.

I just finished reading a book called 'How Doctors think' by Dr. Jerome Groopman. The chapter on radiology talks about how many more images they have to look at now in much less time. He cites one study where radiologists reverse their own calls on an image 5% of the time.

[Jane30]

That sounds so frustrating, Istrl. Hang in there!

[onlyairfare]

I would get a copy of the reports and the images on cd of every study that was done. I would also get the name of the radiologist. You don't know how much experience that person has.

I just finished reading a book called 'How Doctors think' by Dr. Jerome Groopman. The chapter on radiology talks about how many more images they have to look at now in much less time. He cites one study where radiologists reverse their own calls on an image 5% of the time.

In the US a board-certified radiologist has 4 years of undergraduate college, 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship and then 4 years of radiology residency. If they choose to do a specialty fellowship (pediatric radiology or interventional radiology for example), add another 1 - 2 years.

So that is 13 - 15 years of education and training after high school. Plus like most US specialty physicians, they have to pass a recertification board exam every 10 years to show that they remain qualified. As long as the radiologist who reads your studies is board-certified in radiology, s/he is pretty experienced before even starting in practice.

[rdmc]

There are neuro radiologists. My neuros have usually requested the MRIs be read by the neuro radiologist.

Their repoprts seem to be much more detailed. I also had symptoms specific to a certain area of the brain, and so my neuro ordered an MRI. Seemingly nothing showed up, and tha MRI was not read by a neuro radiologist. Symptoms kept coming hard that would correlate to a suspected area of the brain, so a few weeks later, another MRI specifically looking at that area, and voila lesion found...then the neuro radiologist went back and read the previous MRI and said the lesion was present in that MRI as well, just not as well defined.

An MS specialist is also very thorough when reading an MRI.

[lstrl]

I have kept trying, but sadly still unsuccessful. I called the medical records department again yesterday and since my appt is next week she said she would email me the report I didn't get. Sure enough, I didn't get it. I really don't know how much more of this I can take. I'm about ready to go off on someone over there. There is no reason after two requests that I still don't have what I asked for.

Also, people keep mentioning seeing an MS specialist. I do go to what they refer to as the MS center of "excellence." Needless to say, I don't understand what they mean by excellence. It's this PA. All he cares about is what he finds, not what I say. I admit that I'm not as bad off as most of the people I see walking through those doors, but I'm also 29 and not as far along in this disease as I'm guessing all of them are. It's bad enough that it has already ruined my life. My walking is so pathetic that you'd think I was more like 90, only I refuse to use an assistive device because I'd rather suffer through it at this point.

When I went to my hearing for SSDI, I actually thought it was going really well and the judge sounded like there would be no issue siding with me, up until the very end. He then looked at a report he hadn't seen before and he said it stated, from that PA, that this huge list of issues I had was all resolved. That was so not even close to being true! Not once have I ever told him that I feel great and things are so much better. That was all him.

As I have been going through this flare (or apparently not flare because he doesn't believe me and I know he's going to say everything looks good when I go back in), my symptoms are slowly getting worse. The muscle fatigue is getting to the point that just walking into a store leaves me needing to rest. Initially I only noticed that I got worn out somewhere toward the end. My double vision has gotten worse too. Now it's starting almost immediately upon me going out, and I've got glasses but they're nowhere near strong enough (still waiting on getting that taken care of, and that was before it got worse).

I have decided that if he even thinks of pulling this crap on how I'm stable, he's getting an earful. I'm not putting up with this anymore. I don't want to be one of those pain in the *** patients, but I've had enough. I'm sick of being treated like I'm a hypochondriac when my symptoms are real and they're ruining my life. If he doesn't take a different approach this time, I'm done.

[onlyairfare]

That's a good point rdmc. A neuroradiologist has completed all the requirements to be a board certified radiologist, and then has spent an additional year for additional training in reading images pertaining only to the brain and nervous system. Because of this additional training, they may pick up lesions not noticed on earlier studies.

Back when I was having more trouble with my brain (MS + two suspected brain tumors), I would schedule my MRI appointment to be done when the neuroradiologist was there at the facility to read the images. Either my doctor ordering the MRI would specify who was to be the radiologist reading the films, or I would study the website for the radiology group and pick the one who had the neuroradiology training.

[Pipes123]

I would be concerned about the unsigned scan and very concerned about the missing scan.

My mri reports are always signed by the specific radiologist who read them. Without that signature I would be nervous that it was read by a resident, or worse. I learned the hard way that residents are not always supervised, even if they are supposed to be.

Regardless, this is bad service. I hope you can find a different facility for future scans. I don't know whether mri facilities care as much about patient satisfaction as hospitals do, but it would be worth complaining loudly to management if you can find the energy.

[lstrl]

I just realized tonight that I was mistaken about the missing report. I took another look and they were on the same page. It was so short that somehow, I totally missed that they were two different reports. I've never had an MRI report so short before, so that explains it.

Still, no amount of looking produced a sign off by a radiologist. It's just not there. This is the first time I've ever had an MRI where I couldn't find the radiologist's name. This particular hospital doesn't have residents, so I know it wasn't a resident that read it, but then it's not like I have any way of finding out who actually did read it either. I filled out a survey and I complained about it. I hope they do call me because that is so unprofessional.

This was my first ever T-spine MRI and the report says there are no abnormalities. Two years ago my c-spine MRI said that there were lesions all over the place, as far down as t-2, which was the furthest down that they could see. I don't really understand how the thorough radiologist was picking up on this, yet the lazy one sees nothing? I really get the impression it was just a quick read through and he didn't pay close attention at all. Based on the professionalism I've seen between the two, I'm definitely going to believe the first one over this one.

I just hope that the people at the MS center pay closer attention and actually find something that explains why I feel as bad as I do. I would certainly love for things to be all great, but saying that is nothing but a lie. And maybe this cold weather does make it feel worse than it "normally" would, but I do know I didn't feel so weak this time last year.

[pennstater]

Frustrating. I would make sure to prepare for your appointment, write down the inconsistencies between your old MRI and this new one. Ask the neuro if he agrees with the new report.

If you can, make sure to give them a copy of your questions and symptoms and tell them it is their copy for your file. A few weeks after your appt, request a copy of the record for your file and make sure record includes your list.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.