Results from my MRCP...or lack thereof!!!!

[Guest guest]

Do you ever feel like pulling your hair out or screaming at the top

of your lungs in frustration? Well, if you hear someone

screaming tonight it was probably me.

I went to my scheduled appointment with my GI today, anxiously

awaiting the news of the MRCP I had last week. My GI sceduled

the MRCP because the results of the ultrasound I had done at

his hopital 2 weeks ago were inconclusive. The radiology report

didn't even mention the large pseudocyst (6 x 5 cm.) in the tail of

my pancreas on the left, all they mentioned was the smaller one

(3 x 5 cm.) buried in the head of the pancreas on the right side. I

even had to show the technician where it was, by taking the

wand in my hand and moving it across my abdomen to the right

spot, and as she watched it on the screen she said " wow, look

how big that one is " . I watched her measure it and click the

screen in confirmation, so it was a surprise when the radiology

report failed to mention it at all. So the MRCP was supposed to

be so much better, and show this pseudocyst. The radiology

report today on the MRCP mentioned all the details of the

smaller pseudocyst, and not one word was written about the

large one in my tail that my doc and I are so concerned about.

So quite obviously the radiologist either didn't review the full set

of pictures, and just used the earlier ultrasound report for

comparison, or a portion of the film was overlooked, or they

stopped filming once they saw the smaller pseudocyst and didn't

complete the whole job.

It's infuriating that professionals could be so incompetent. But

it's a lesson for you all, that even the precise technology of the

MRCP isn't foolproof. If the radiologist overlooks a part of the

film, or the film isn't completed correctly, even a pseudocyst

that's the size of a softball can be overlooked. If it weren't for the

fact that we have an earlier CT-film from another hospital

showing both the cysts, and the fact that both my doctor and I can

see and feel the mound where large pseudocyst is......if the

doctor went by the results of this radiology report without

question, something this medically abnormal and important

would be overlooked.

So remember this when your doctor says that the " CT-scan

looked fine " and you have knowledge that it may not be as it

appears. Consequently, now I have to go back and have it all

done over again on Monday, this time by a CT-scan. I've decided

that I'll do the radiology technician a favor this time and tell them

that they've already goofed this up twice and that this third time

they better get the darned thing done thoroughly, completely and

right! I have decided to paint TWO big " X's " on my belly where

the pseudocysts are so they don't miss them this next time! The

more I think about it, the scarier it is, because it makes me

wonder what other hospitals have missed with other people. I

am also considering calling my insurance company and having

them battle with the hospital about the charges for the earlier

work, since it wasn't done correctly, and these procedures are

always more than $5,000. This will be my 10th CT-scan in the

last two years.

I've tried so hard to keep my cool and take this all one step at a

time, one day at a time, and to not let the whole picture

overwhelm me, but this goofed up report today really blew me

out of the water. I'm so tired of 2-3 appts., procedures, blood

tests, scans, x-rays each week that sometimes I feel like I'm

coming unglued. GRRRRRR! Thanks for letting me vent.

I have another question, but I'll post it under another heading.

BRB!

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.