Should I Be Concerned About 8mm Mass Found In An Ultrasound On The Head Of My Pancreas?

Question : Dead Doctor

Here’s my story and concern- I really appreciate your advice.

Last year while visiting SE Asia I had a health work up at an international hospital in BKK where an ultrasound showed an 8mm lesion on the head of my pancreas...the scan was done twice by two separate techs. C-19 marker test was done and it was normal (8)- don’t know if I have the XXXXXXX antigen.

The hospital recommended that I get a CT scan there. I returned to the US immediately and visited my PCP instead to to be close to loved ones just in-case the scan showed something scary

Upon returning my doc ordered an abdominal MRI that came back normal...HUGE RELIEF!

Why I’m still a little concerned...

Weight- I dropped 10-15 lbs while traveling for 6 months. I was walking a lot more and did a decemt amount of yoga/working out (no cardio) but also was eating pizza/burgers/coconut curries/tacos/drinks etc. Nonetheless, my doctor attributed the weight loss to traveling, Fast forward ten months later, my weight has not returned despite eating pizza, donuts, cookies, burgers/fries you name it combined with some healthy eating and average exercise. This is essentially my normal lifestyle for many years (good and bad food with moderate exercise avg 2-3x per week).

I am in clothes at sizes I’ve not fit in since I was in undergraduate school 15+ years ago- (normally 6’1’’ 205 ish lbs 217 at my fattest...now 190 lbs and my shoulder mass/hips have shrunk alot)


Appetite-
I am eating regular meals, but my appetite is not what it used to be. I used to love to eat but now my appetite is somewhat surpressed in that I don’t crave food the same way, can stop eating (feel full) a lot easier, and have to remind myself to eat sometimes.

Stools-
My stools vary but are loose a lot - solidish but airy, wet and light XXXXXXX

Worried that the doctors/MRI might have missed something.

I met with a GI last week. He ordered a comp 14/amylase and lipase test with and I’m to follow up a month from now. He said he wants to see what the blood work shows before ordering any imaging.

Here are my questions-

Could an MRI miss an 8mm mass? Is MRI as good as CT for this?

Should I be requesting a new scan irrespective of the bloodwork results that comeback or sooner? (Ive read that bloodwork isn’t all that helpful and that lipase/analyst tests are only elevated 50% of the time with PC.)

Thanks for your thoughts. I was extremely anxious returning home last year, then relived after the MRI, now I’m a bit anxious again.


Last note, perhaps not relevant -I have had two fatty masses appear on my arm in the last month that I am seeing a general surgeon about (one confirmed as a lipoma via ultrasound to date) These don’t run in my family.

Thanks. What might have the ultrasound techs been seeing...is it strange that two of them saw the same thing?

Would pancreatitis/damage due to long term show up on an MRI?

I have ignored a pain for almost a decade that shoots to my upper left shoulder blade and near my solar plexus off the left side of my rib cage. The pain is worse at night when I lie down (I’d dig a thercane into it to relieve it). Never saw it as serious but now I’m a bit worried.

Lately the pain has become less intense (albeit still there) my blood pressure has gone down and having feelings like my blood pressure is too low (or blood sugar is out of whack)...lightheaded/nauseas/out of it.

I’m getting that testing done this week but curious what the MRI might be able to rule out regarding pancreas. If this is better asked of a GI or radiologist I can repost there but appreciate any thoughts you have.

Thanks.

Ok, but you’d still hold off on imaging even though CT is preferred? I think it’s weird my doctor ordered an MRI given the specificity if the suspicion unless I am misunderstanding the efficacy of MRI in this instance.

Thanks.