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Hello, I Am A US Citizen In Need Of Help
Posted on
Tue, 12 Nov 2019
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 12 Nov 2019
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello,
I am a US citizen in need of help from an Oncologist. My mother is 57 years old who lives in a different country. Recently, she was suffering from severe lower back pain that kept getting worst and worst.
In 3 weeks she started loosing movement in her legs. We rushed her to a neurologist who performed an MRI and informed us that she might have metastatic cancer and that a tumor is pressing against a nerve which is causing the pain. He performed an emergency surgery to save her legs which was successful.
We then took her to an oncology center for further tests. After performing a PET scan and many other blood tests they told us that it is not cancer. We are waiting on a second biopsy too.
My question is : Can a physician misdiagnose cancer based on MRI ?
I am a US citizen in need of help from an Oncologist. My mother is 57 years old who lives in a different country. Recently, she was suffering from severe lower back pain that kept getting worst and worst.
In 3 weeks she started loosing movement in her legs. We rushed her to a neurologist who performed an MRI and informed us that she might have metastatic cancer and that a tumor is pressing against a nerve which is causing the pain. He performed an emergency surgery to save her legs which was successful.
We then took her to an oncology center for further tests. After performing a PET scan and many other blood tests they told us that it is not cancer. We are waiting on a second biopsy too.
My question is : Can a physician misdiagnose cancer based on MRI ?
Brief Answer:
MRI is never diagnostic of cancer without biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Apart from certain situations, like deep seated brain tumors, MRI can only suspect but not confirm cancer.
As this was an emergency, decompression surgery of spine is done and the tissue sent for biopsy. It may or may not turn out to be cancer. Many a times it is tuberculosis or benign tumor. Prognosis is good in those cases.
Hope this helps.
Regards
MRI is never diagnostic of cancer without biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Apart from certain situations, like deep seated brain tumors, MRI can only suspect but not confirm cancer.
As this was an emergency, decompression surgery of spine is done and the tissue sent for biopsy. It may or may not turn out to be cancer. Many a times it is tuberculosis or benign tumor. Prognosis is good in those cases.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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