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Bulky Pancreas and MRI with contrast

cloupar26
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Hi everyone,

I had a CT scan late last year off the back of my colonoscopy which came back fine however they had an incidental finding, I had a slightly bulk pancreas. Since then I’ve had weight loss of about a stone without trying, fatigue, pain in my right side which for years always radiates to my back and I feel dizzy and weak at times. I’ve all of sudden not been able to drink alcohol it doesn’t sit right with me. I got referred to gastro on urgent pathway and just had a MRI with contrast today, I am driving myself crazy at what a bulky pancreas could be and I had urgent bloods last week. 

Has anyone had a bulky pancreas’s and what did it turn out of be? Also, how quick will I get my results back? 

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    I'm sorry to hear of the problems you've been experiencing.  I was referred on the urgent pathway in December for investigation of the pancreas but for different reasons to yourself. I was under gynae investigation and the CA19.9 blood tumour marker (used for pancreas) was about 50 times higher than it was supposed to be. Timings - had MRI with contrast on 23rd December. Results were with consultant by 29th Dec - that generated 2 letters 1/appointment to see consultant on 13th Jan 2/results of MRI (which I did not actually receive until 18th). Nothing was found on my MRI - my appointment was to say next step was an endoscopic ultrasound/gastroscopy and a referral to the regional specialist hospital. I was moved off the urgent pathway following the MRI - I believe I would have been seen/heard results faster if they had found something/treatment was needed. I had the gastroscopy in Jan - gallstones but no signs of cancer in pancreas/liver. Still waiting on the specialist referral 

    I've been told to avoid alcohol and fatty and processed foods. In my case, they believe its possible that my gallstones are small enough to leave the gallbladder and pass through the pancreas/liver and that my pancreas has been sensitive but not actually got pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas (so one possible cause for enlarged/bulky pancreas) but I've no idea what that actually means going forward as thankfully I'm not at that stage.

    I wish you all the best with your investigations and hope you get answers and solutions soon

  • Offline in reply to Leni56

    Thank you I’m glad you’re being seen and it hasn’t been cancer!! How did you find out the tested for tumour marker? I’ve had a blood test but no results yet, they colorectal department said the gastro team should review my scan for potential pancreatis then my new consultant sent me for an MRI so I’m not sure if they’re looking into cancer or not it’s so scary :(  

  • Offline in reply to cloupar26

    Initially I was sent for blood tests as they were investigating for possible ovarian or womb cancer or both. Tests/biopsies etc came back clear and the MDT meeting was a recommendation to repeat the blood tests after 6 weeks and the scans/biopsies after 6 months. It was after those blood tests that I got a phonecall to explain that blood tests included CA19.9 and that my CA19.9 had been high in July and was now higher and that they wanted to repeat the blood tests again after another 6 weeks. That 3rd set of blood tests got me on the 2wk pathway for gastro. I was never actually given the result of the blood test - just told high or elevated. I am being monitored through blood tests at my GP surgery while I wait for my specialist appointment to come through. In early April I had a missed a phone call and a message to urgently contact my GP - who then apologised for worrying me and said a ca19.9 of 650 had triggered 'alarm bells' but actually it was good news because previously it has been 1850.

     I wouldn't read anything in to being sent for an MRI though. My impression is that they will use all sorts of imaging, testing, blood tests etc so that they can build up a clear a picture as possible of what is going on. As I said above I was sent for the gastroscopy after the CT and MRI scans. As you say, it is all very scary , with lots of sleepless nights and anxiously waiting for results. I hope all goes well

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