Neurofibromatosis Support Group

Neurofibromatosis is usually noncancerous. There are three types of this condition. Type 1 usually appears in childhood, while Types 2 and 3 appear in early adulthood. Type 1 can cause bone deformities, learning disabilities, and high blood pressure. Type 2 can cause hearing loss, vision loss, and difficulty with balance. Type 3 can cause chronic pain throughout the body....

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MRI VS CT Scan

Marah
Marah
About a month ago, I suffered a sudden and severe episode of vertigo. I was fine one moment, the next I was on the floor unable to stand up and unable to stop vomiting. I went to the ER, they did a CT scan and announced that I did not have a tumor causing the problem. I was bed ridden for just over a week, unable to stand up, had to crawl to get to the bathroom. My doctor prescribed massive doses of prednisone. Just over a month later, I am still walking with a cane, still dizzy. My doctor wants me to have an MRI to check for any nerve tumors in my inner ear. Why isn't the CT scan I had in the hospital enough to rule that out? What is the basic difference?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was a regular on this site a few years ago when I was going through tests to treat my Nerve Sheath sarcoma related to NF. I too had several CT's and MRI's. The CT gives multiple "flat" image slices as it scans. Think of several individual x-rays that show "slices" of the area of the ear. The MRI scans the area to allow the images to be viewed in a more 3-Dimensional way.

So the CT will allow the doctors to detect what appears to be a tumor it will not give them a good idea of exactly the shape or exact position of the tumor. It is a "flat" image.

The MRI results in images that can give a better idea of the shape and position of the tumor. Something more like a "movie" of the tumor where it can be viewed like having a camera show the tumor from different angles and zooming in and out of the tumor.

So especially when the tumor is in an area such as the inner ear where the surgery is more delicate the MRI is preferred.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The type of tumor they are looking for is called an Acoustic Neuorima. It wraps around the nerve to the ear. I was diagnosed with bilateral tumors in 2007. They took the AN first to save my hearing. I lost the balance nerve on that side, but your body will adapt. My problem was the 2nd one. I am now disabled, no balance on either side and deaf on the other side. Make sure you also see a specialist that deals with AC's...not just a Neurologist. I had both surgeons for the first surgery. Please keep me posted. I would love to hear from you. I don't mean to scare you. My condition is different. I have a disease that can cause tumors anywhere at any time. Mine just happened to be on the brain.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am sorry...I wasn't looking at the heading. Do you have NF?
Marah
Marah
Yes, I do have NF. In September I had an acute and severe attack of vertigo. I was bedridden for over a week and had to use a cane for balance until very recently. I lost my hearing in my left ear for a while, that has fortunately gotten better. I still lose my balance very easily. Because I have NF, the doctor was concerned it could be the type of tumor you talked about there. When I first got sick, the ER doc ordered CT scans she said to rule out a tumor or stoke. A couple of weeks later I was sent to an ENT and he wanted an MRI to rule out a tumor, so I was just confused and my husband was a bit irritated that I needed another test to rule out a tumor. My husband was thinking they just wanted more money from us. Anywho, the MRI didn't show any tumors thank goodness. The doctor now thinks it was Labrynthitis, a severe infection of my inner ear. Apparently my balance center in my left ear was pretty much destroyed. I am now in Physical therapy for the balance issues. Thank you for the information.