From my MRI report:
There is a non-displaced fracture involving the third metatarsal neck. There is no acute bone marrow or soft tissue edema. The findings may reflect a fracture nonunion.
From my x-ray report a week later (and I promise you nothing has changed in my foot):
A band of sclerosis is present involving the distal diaphysis of the third metatarsal. This is felt to represent a healed stress fracture.
Those are pretty different diagnoses. I've got a note into the super duper specialist (the one who actually ordered this x-ray last week) to see which one is accurate. Because honestly if the x-ray findings are accurate, not only will I be ecstatic I'll also go running.
Bonus kitty picture to spice things up.
And here's the reply from Dr. R's nurse:
I spoke with Dr. R and he said the xray is what gives us the most up to date information. So I would say the Xray is gospel! He said basically you are producing a band of sclerosis in that area which is your body's way of trying to heal the stress fracture. He said that this could be an area of what is called hyperostotic non-union or is an area of bone formation in the face of a non-union. He explained that typically those situation do go on to heal but they may require surgical intervention. He encourages you to keep your appointment with the foot specialist.
2 comments:
So those images are subject to interpretation by the radiologist who reads them. The ultimate read will be your specialist, who has not only the images but your exam to help make his judgment. Sometimes I'll get questionable reads from a radiologist that don't agree with what I'm seeing clinically.
I'm interested to hear what you find out!!!
Thank you for weighing, your background means I listen! And I will keep that appointment. I've run twice since I got that radiologist's report, thinking well if it's healed I'll run. I . . . am not sure it's healed. So Thursday will be interesting to say the least.
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