Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Do The Following CT And MRI Scan Results Indicate?
Question: Had a CT w/ contrast and MRI w/o contrast done in Dec 2015 only found benign renal cyst. Had another CT w/ contrast in May 2016, still just benign renal cyst. Had a MRI w/ contrast done in August 2016, found "a tiny barely perceptible cyst on tail of pancreas".
Could this be a false positive on the MRI since it didn't show up on the others?
Are these cysts benign?
Please explain about this.
Thank you
Could this be a false positive on the MRI since it didn't show up on the others?
Are these cysts benign?
Please explain about this.
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Well defined and isolated tiny cysts are usually benign
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
If the reports have mentioned it as a benign renal cyst and there is no change in size in the CT scan done in May 2016 and MRI scan done in August 2016 then it is confirmed to be a benign renal cyst. Usually we recommend a scan after 3 to 6 months to confirm that the cyst is not growing or showing any features of change and then it is reported as a benign renal cyst.
Regarding the barely perceptible cyst in the tail of the pancreas, it is a region where there are many structures and does not have any definite sharp margins. This makes it difficult to see a tiny cyst in the tail of pancreas. The visualisation also depends on the distension of the stomach and bowel in the region. Therefore probably it was not visualised previously. The cyst has been described as barely perceptible and so it is really small and was not visualised on the previous scans. Such tiny cysts are usually benign.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Well defined and isolated tiny cysts are usually benign
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
If the reports have mentioned it as a benign renal cyst and there is no change in size in the CT scan done in May 2016 and MRI scan done in August 2016 then it is confirmed to be a benign renal cyst. Usually we recommend a scan after 3 to 6 months to confirm that the cyst is not growing or showing any features of change and then it is reported as a benign renal cyst.
Regarding the barely perceptible cyst in the tail of the pancreas, it is a region where there are many structures and does not have any definite sharp margins. This makes it difficult to see a tiny cyst in the tail of pancreas. The visualisation also depends on the distension of the stomach and bowel in the region. Therefore probably it was not visualised previously. The cyst has been described as barely perceptible and so it is really small and was not visualised on the previous scans. Such tiny cysts are usually benign.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Brief Answer:
Isolated benign cyst in pancreas is unlikely to affect your life expectancy
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
The cysts which are found in drinking excessive alcohol are pseudocysts and are usually large in size and happen after an attack of acute pancreatitis.
The cyst which you have in the tail of the pancreas is tiny and unlikely to be a pseudocyst. A tiny cyst cannot be characterised and therefore the cyst resolving on its own cannot be predicted right now.
If the cyst in tail of pancreas is an isolated simple cyst then your life expectancy will not be affected.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Isolated benign cyst in pancreas is unlikely to affect your life expectancy
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
The cysts which are found in drinking excessive alcohol are pseudocysts and are usually large in size and happen after an attack of acute pancreatitis.
The cyst which you have in the tail of the pancreas is tiny and unlikely to be a pseudocyst. A tiny cyst cannot be characterised and therefore the cyst resolving on its own cannot be predicted right now.
If the cyst in tail of pancreas is an isolated simple cyst then your life expectancy will not be affected.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I was told that this could possibly be a false positive on the MRI?
Do benign cyst grow?
Sorry, I am just concerned and want to avoid having anything turn into cancer.
Do benign cyst grow?
Sorry, I am just concerned and want to avoid having anything turn into cancer.
Brief Answer:
Benign cysts double in size after months to years.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
MRI can be false positive if the size of the cyst is really small. No imaging investigation is 100 percent perfect.
Benign cysts grow very slowly. Benign cysts double in size after months to years.
If a cyst grows double the size between 1 and 6 months then it is more likely to be a cancer.
The report mentions possibility of IPMN (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm). This is a concern for cancer only if the size is more than 10 mm.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Benign cysts double in size after months to years.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
MRI can be false positive if the size of the cyst is really small. No imaging investigation is 100 percent perfect.
Benign cysts grow very slowly. Benign cysts double in size after months to years.
If a cyst grows double the size between 1 and 6 months then it is more likely to be a cancer.
The report mentions possibility of IPMN (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm). This is a concern for cancer only if the size is more than 10 mm.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Would the radiologist just be covering himself by mentioning an IPMN without really knowing.
At this point, is this anything serious to be concerned with?
Thank you
Would having it removed be a good course of action just to be on the safe side?
At this point, is this anything serious to be concerned with?
Thank you
Would having it removed be a good course of action just to be on the safe side?
Brief Answer:
A lesion which is barely visible is not require any removal.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
A lesion which is barely visible is not require any removal. Probably a cyst measuring larger than 10 mm would have required removal.
The radiologist has mentioned the possibility of IPMN to draw attention to some thing which requires follow up assessment after few months. Its not like "without knowing" because even an IPMN can start as a small cyst. Rather AI would say the radiologist wants to highlight the matter to your doctor so that a repeat examination is scheduled after some months.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
A lesion which is barely visible is not require any removal.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
A lesion which is barely visible is not require any removal. Probably a cyst measuring larger than 10 mm would have required removal.
The radiologist has mentioned the possibility of IPMN to draw attention to some thing which requires follow up assessment after few months. Its not like "without knowing" because even an IPMN can start as a small cyst. Rather AI would say the radiologist wants to highlight the matter to your doctor so that a repeat examination is scheduled after some months.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So, basically he is not saying it is an IPMN, but it could be a possibility?
Would it be fair to say everything is leaning toward a benign cyst at this point?
Also, are benign cyst a common finding?
Would it be fair to say everything is leaning toward a benign cyst at this point?
Also, are benign cyst a common finding?
Brief Answer:
Cysts in pancreas are more common in MRI scans than in CT scans
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Yes you are right. He does not want it to be overlooked and has given a possibility.
Right now things point to a likely benign cyst.
In CT scans cysts in pancreas is found in 2.6 percent of patients. In MRI scan cysts in pancreas is there in 13.5 percent of patients.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Cysts in pancreas are more common in MRI scans than in CT scans
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Yes you are right. He does not want it to be overlooked and has given a possibility.
Right now things point to a likely benign cyst.
In CT scans cysts in pancreas is found in 2.6 percent of patients. In MRI scan cysts in pancreas is there in 13.5 percent of patients.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
The cysts in pancreas are 6 times more common in MRI scan than CT scan.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Yes you are probably right. The cysts in pancreas are 6 times more common in MRI scan than CT scan. Therefore it might have been there for some time before it was visualised in the recent MRI scan with contrast.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
The cysts in pancreas are 6 times more common in MRI scan than CT scan.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Yes you are probably right. The cysts in pancreas are 6 times more common in MRI scan than CT scan. Therefore it might have been there for some time before it was visualised in the recent MRI scan with contrast.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So, it would be possible if it has been there for awhile, it will remain that way for the remainder of my life?
Would that constitute a benign cyst as well?
Would that constitute a benign cyst as well?
Brief Answer:
Cysts which are the same size for a long time are always benign
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Yes the cyst can stay the same for years to come and these are always benign. I have seen benign cysts which are the same for a decade or longer.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Cysts which are the same size for a long time are always benign
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Yes the cyst can stay the same for years to come and these are always benign. I have seen benign cysts which are the same for a decade or longer.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
