how many mri scans should be performed with bx

A scan is merely a diagnostic tool. Your consultant will ask how you are. Note carefully how your symptoms compare to two years ago and discuss them with him. If they have changed little he will probably not repeat the scan, which although small, has risks in itself. He will want to treat what he finds and you may not need to repeat the scan as he will have knowledge of variances and progression based on what you tell him. Best of luck with your visit

Agree that if your condition has stayed the same they are unlikely to run another MRI scan or CT scan. X-Rays are however pretty cheap and offer some diagnostic assessment of lung damage in bronchiex with much lower radiation exposure (you get more by sitting on a rock like granite!).

My lung defence team (Papworth Hospital) scheduled a breathing test and bloods for my recent annual update and added an X-Ray only on hearing that I was suffering from an infection when I turned up. Every time I have checked into a hospital clinic with an infection that has got a bit out of control they have always run an X-Ray. But being a non-resident Brit I do my stuff on insurance. NHS type operations might be more parsimonius unless pressed!

Don't be afraid to ask whether an X-Ray or other scan is warranted if you feel there is a risk your lung condition has worsened!

 

Hi Simon

Unless something has changed significantly in your symptoms our you need to be checked out for TB etc, I doubt they would be keen on it.

It depends exactly how you do the HRCT scan, but a typical one that we get (medium dose HRCT, 1.5mm section, 10 mm gap) represents say 14 chest X-ray equivalents. Hence they are not so keen!

To be fair, this value can decrease a lot with different settings, but it's certainly what the radiographer has used on the two occasions I've had one.

Cheers

Sam