Radiologist-in-Training

If I had known I could get the images from my CT scan on CD, I never would have bothered poring over my films. This CD even comes with an application that lets you zoom in, measure the length of items in millimeters, and change the “Window” setting (which seems to be like a “zoom” [...]

I, Radiologist

Before my appointment with the gynecologist, I stopped by the hospital to pick up the films from my abdominal/pelvis CT scan. They were brought out to me in a whopping 18″x15″ envelope. While I was at the hospital, I figured I’d pick up my mammogram films from last year too. Having these images for my [...]

Cells Gone Wild

Results of my abdominal/pelvic CT scan: Large, exophytic, hypervascular and heterogeneous mass extending from the left aspect of the fundus of the uterus, measuring 12 x 14.4 x 9.7 cm in diameter, compressing the ureters and resulting in a mild degree of hydronephrosis; either a large uterine fibroid or sarcoma. The ovaries are separate from [...]

CT Scan

For those of you who lie awake at night wondering what it’s like to get a CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis with and without contrast: Stopped eating or drinking (including water) about 3 or 4 hours before appointment time. At the appointment, the lab technician gave me a 1-liter bottle of dark red, berry-flavored liquid, [...]

Red Tape

Friday evening, I had called my health insurance about getting a CT scan and they said I’d need pre-auth in order to have the test covered. If I went to the ER on Saturday, I’d have to pay additional ER charges. Their authorization department was closed for the week, however, and would not open up [...]

Scolding

I scheduled an appointment for 4pm so it wouldn’t interfere with my meetings at work. The doctor was pleasant and nice – until she saw and felt the mass in my abdomen. “It’s so big!” “You look like you’re pregnant!” “This feels really hard.” “This is unbelievable – you have to feel it to actually [...]