Yet another MRi question.
 

Sorry, guys. Another Q for you about MRI's. My Neuro ordered a c-spine with AND without contrast. When I called to make my appt for it, they basically told me that they only will do it without.

My question is, my insurance is going to be terminated in a month. This is my last chance for awhile to get my testing done, I want it done right. How much of a difference will it be if the only do it without contrast?? Will the lesions still show up, just not glow?

Thanks!

Did they tell you why they won't do it? Why not use another approved facility. It's worth getting it done the right way if you can.

Gadolinium (contrast) will show any areas that are actively demylinating. This can be very helpful if you are trying to get a dx.

First off, why is the MRI center doing the MRI contrary to YOUR doc's orders? They don't get to make that decision. Since when are THEY your doctor????

W/ and w/o contrast is done for a reason. To show if you have enhancing lesions, right now. The lesions will show, but any new ones won't enhance without the contrast.

I'd be on the phone with your doc right now letting them know that the MRI center is doing the MRI contrary to his orders.

Hey,mamamonkey if I remember right when I had my spinal MRI I think it was without contrast I don't know if you can have a spinal MRI with contrast it's a good question. Only my brain MRI was with and without contrast. Maybe someone else here knows the answer.

I'm doing it at my local hospital since my Neuro is in another city. You would think the hospital would have no problems doing it as ordered. My neuro is a MS specialist, so I know this is how he standardly orders his MRI's.

Thanks, guys! I will call the office and see if I can schedule where they normally do the scans.

I just had a cervical spine MRI in Dec. It was done with and without contrast. I'd give your doc a call to check it with him. In the meantime, why don't you call a different MRI facility to see if they'll do it with contrast?

That's what I ended up doing. So I am scheduled on Monday at the facility my Neuro uses. Which I suppose is better anyway, since he knows the Radiologists and such.

Glad to here you got that straightened out! I would call the hospital and put in a complaint about the MRI center, tell them that you are going to another facility because they wanted to run a test contrary to your Drs orders.

They should know that they did that, what if you hadn't questioned it and that caused you not to get the proper treatment.

When I had my spinal MRI done, my one good vein had been blown the day before by a nurse who nearly left the needle in my arm when she was removing the syringe.

So, when I went the next day for my MRI, they couldnt get any contrast in for the With Contrast part of the MRI. They were able to see "something" on the MRI, but they just couldnt see exactly what the "something" was. So, I had to go back about a week later with a healed arm from the blown vein, and that time they got the contrast in and the two lesions that I had (C4 and T12) were all shiny and lighting up the place like a christmas tree. (and a week later, I got my diagnosis.)

I have to agree 100% with Av8rgirl here MammaMonkey. If your doctor has requested both with & without contrast, the Radiology department does not have the right to say they'll only do one or the other.

I've only ever had mine done with contrast here in Australia, but I understand that you guys don't always get that option. If I had the choice to make I'd always take "with contrast" because I believe it shows up much more than without.

During and soon after exacerbations I've found that my "hot spots" have always been illuminated with contrast, and lets face it....that's what most of us want to know about.