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What Causes Abdominal Pain Along With Nausea And Bloating?
Question: Hello Doctor -
I have been having abdominal pain, bloating/gas, nausea, weight loss and other symptoms for few months.
I went to see a gastroenterologist and he did upper EGD(endoscopy upper GI track), EUS(upper endoscopic ultrasound) and colonoscopy. After all these tests gastroenterologist is not bale to find the cause of the abdominal pain.
To find the cause of the abdominal pain and other symptoms, he is planning to do MRI or CT Scan of the abdomen and pelvis.
My questions are -
1) what will be the better test to find the cause of the abdominal pain?
2) what are the pros and cons for both the tests?
I greatly appreciate your time and advice.
Best Regards
XXXX
I have been having abdominal pain, bloating/gas, nausea, weight loss and other symptoms for few months.
I went to see a gastroenterologist and he did upper EGD(endoscopy upper GI track), EUS(upper endoscopic ultrasound) and colonoscopy. After all these tests gastroenterologist is not bale to find the cause of the abdominal pain.
To find the cause of the abdominal pain and other symptoms, he is planning to do MRI or CT Scan of the abdomen and pelvis.
My questions are -
1) what will be the better test to find the cause of the abdominal pain?
2) what are the pros and cons for both the tests?
I greatly appreciate your time and advice.
Best Regards
XXXX
Brief Answer:
You can go for MRI scan.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I have gone through your problems in detail.
You are rightly advised for further investigations.With symptoms you are suffering,generally endoscopy and ultrasound is able to find out the reasons.
Next investigation of choice are CT Scan or MRI.There are pros and cons of both modalities.
CT scan is ideal for lesions that contain calcifications,kidney and liver lesions etc,but it causes radiation exposure to the patients.
Where as MRI doesn't use ionizing radiation and it is absolutely safe.It is very sensitive to detect pancreatic and hepatobiliary lesions,pelvic pathology etc.But is costly and it causes claustrophobia(fear of closed space).It is not very sensitive for lesions that contains calcifications.
MRI gives multiplanar images and it is very informative for detecting extention of lesions.
Choice of modality depend upon clinical diagnosis and findings.I think you can go for MRI scan of abdomen.
Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
You can go for MRI scan.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I have gone through your problems in detail.
You are rightly advised for further investigations.With symptoms you are suffering,generally endoscopy and ultrasound is able to find out the reasons.
Next investigation of choice are CT Scan or MRI.There are pros and cons of both modalities.
CT scan is ideal for lesions that contain calcifications,kidney and liver lesions etc,but it causes radiation exposure to the patients.
Where as MRI doesn't use ionizing radiation and it is absolutely safe.It is very sensitive to detect pancreatic and hepatobiliary lesions,pelvic pathology etc.But is costly and it causes claustrophobia(fear of closed space).It is not very sensitive for lesions that contains calcifications.
MRI gives multiplanar images and it is very informative for detecting extention of lesions.
Choice of modality depend upon clinical diagnosis and findings.I think you can go for MRI scan of abdomen.
Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX -
Thank you very much for your reply.
Should I have abdominal/pelvic MRI with contrast or without contrast?
Does contrast help with abdominal MRI?
I hear that contrast material have a risk of kidney damage.
What contrast material is less harmful for MZRI?
What is your opinion?
Thanks again for your expert advice.
Best Regards
XXXX
Thank you very much for your reply.
Should I have abdominal/pelvic MRI with contrast or without contrast?
Does contrast help with abdominal MRI?
I hear that contrast material have a risk of kidney damage.
What contrast material is less harmful for MZRI?
What is your opinion?
Thanks again for your expert advice.
Best Regards
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Please find detail answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Contrast study is needed if there is any pathology detected during plain scan.Contrast study is required to assess enhancement pattern of lesions,vascularity etc.
Now a days,we use non ionic contrast and contrast associated reactions are very less reported.
If contrast is at all needed during examination,it is better to use non-ionic MRI contrast.
Prior to administration of contrast,it is better to evaluate serum urea and creatinine(it can assess renal functions).
Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Please find detail answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Contrast study is needed if there is any pathology detected during plain scan.Contrast study is required to assess enhancement pattern of lesions,vascularity etc.
Now a days,we use non ionic contrast and contrast associated reactions are very less reported.
If contrast is at all needed during examination,it is better to use non-ionic MRI contrast.
Prior to administration of contrast,it is better to evaluate serum urea and creatinine(it can assess renal functions).
Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX -
Thanks again for your answer.
They plan to do abdomen and pelvic MRI with and without contrast.
First day they will do abdominal MRI with and without contrast.
After three days they plan to do pelvic MRI with and without contrast.
I'm wondering, Is it possible to do both abdominal and pelvic MRI on the same day so that I can have both tests done with contrast material injected only one time.
I guess, if the contrast material injected two times will be more likely to affect kidneys. Is that right?
What is the general protocol to do abdominal and pelvic MRI with contrast?
Best Regards
XXXX
Thanks again for your answer.
They plan to do abdomen and pelvic MRI with and without contrast.
First day they will do abdominal MRI with and without contrast.
After three days they plan to do pelvic MRI with and without contrast.
I'm wondering, Is it possible to do both abdominal and pelvic MRI on the same day so that I can have both tests done with contrast material injected only one time.
I guess, if the contrast material injected two times will be more likely to affect kidneys. Is that right?
What is the general protocol to do abdominal and pelvic MRI with contrast?
Best Regards
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Please find detail answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Two separate sittings for abdomen and pelvis MRI is generally advised in anxious patients or patient is having pain because abdomen MRI takes 30-40 mins and pelvis MRI takes additional 30- 40 mins.So,this prolong period may be a problem for some patients.Imaging quality can deteriorate if patient is not comfortable and not quiet during investigation.
I think your doctor must have kept your condition in mind before advising two separate sittings.There is no problem.
Don't worry about contrast side effects.Three days are sufficient time period for washing out MRI contrast from our body.Additional dose can be safely given.
If renal functions are alright,side effects are rarely seen.
Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Please find detail answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Two separate sittings for abdomen and pelvis MRI is generally advised in anxious patients or patient is having pain because abdomen MRI takes 30-40 mins and pelvis MRI takes additional 30- 40 mins.So,this prolong period may be a problem for some patients.Imaging quality can deteriorate if patient is not comfortable and not quiet during investigation.
I think your doctor must have kept your condition in mind before advising two separate sittings.There is no problem.
Don't worry about contrast side effects.Three days are sufficient time period for washing out MRI contrast from our body.Additional dose can be safely given.
If renal functions are alright,side effects are rarely seen.
Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.
Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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