MRI Incidental finding ...... Terrified me ..Opacified Sphenoid Sinus

[tan235]

Hi Team,
So I had an MRI for an acoustic neuroma, no neuroma was found, but they found an opacified sphenoid sinuses, has anyone had this!?

What the hell does it mean? I'm terrified now, I have to get a CT scan on my sinuses now!
I can't even relax or be happy that I have no tumour!!

[WiseMonkey]

Apparently it's a common incidental finding usually caused by sinus infections, that don't fully clear up. It's an inflammatory condition. I'd ask your Dr to explain more.

[tan235]

My Dr was very unconcerned, she said it was fairly common, and to not worry about it, but I googled it and then went into a huge panic, what if it's Sphenoid sinusitis? That can kill you!! I've gone to my ENT and he's ordered a CT Scan to find out more info. I dont' feel like I have a sinus infection which is weird, just a normal blocked nose!

Thank you for responding x

[tan235]

So I'm so terrified right now.
I went to get an MRI on my ears to rule out an acoustic neuroma, that was fine but they found an oqaue sinus as an incidental finding so asked me to get a CT scan to figure out what it was.
I was thinking a sinus infection - turns out it's not but it's a 'bony expansion' on my sinus that needs to be tested again in 3-6 months to make sure there's no progression.
I asked my Dr if it was cancer and she said 'No,' then I asked, 'why do I need to get it retested' and she said 'For cancer'' = so what the actual frick does that mean??!

I'm sitting here in tears, I can't see the specialist till next week, and I keep reading the CT scan report over and over again trying to figure out what it all means and driving myself crazy.
What if I actually have the starting of cancer here?

I can't breathe, can't eat, I can't cope... this is horrible.

[carriewriting]

I'm so sorry you're going through this Tan. I had an incidental finding on my MRI this week and not knowing what's going on is really scary.

If they're waiting 3-6 months they must be pretty confident that it's either nothing or something that is low risk.

Try to put the report away. Re-reading it is only making you feel worse. Try to give yourself a free pass from worrying over the weekend. Tell yourself you can worry about it again on Monday. Stay busy, do something nice for yourself and take care.

[tan235]

Thank you ... yes my Dr said it's not cancer but when I asked why a review she just said 'cancer' so .... bloody shittake mushrooms.... I've got whiskey, I'll drink that......

[pulisa]

Your doctor can't just say "cancer" and leave it at that...Ring her up and ask her for a full explanation rather than torment yourself reading a report you are not qualified to interpret?

These "incidentalomas" are a hazard with MRI and CT scans..They pick up harmless stuff which you've been walking around with for ages and would never realise you had..but they have to be investigated if found. One more reason to limit sensitive scans to clinical need only.

[tan235]

Thank you so much .... "incidentalomas" are exactly what they are! I'm trying so hard to not panic but I do ....

[tan235]

Actually I did ask her what she meant and she said 'just like a mole, you can go in and they are not sure about it so you go back after 3 month to check it's not changing as it could just 'look' like that. ... so still means theres a chance it's cancer ... you know?

[pulisa]

Yes there's always a chance but considering the wait for a rescan it's more likely just a routine check on a new finding. You've probably had this for ages, Tan and would never had known about it if you hadn't had the scan for something completely different..I'm sorry you've had this to worry about though..It's the worst thing with HA.