MRI or CatScan as follow up imaging for metastatic liver tumor?

Thanks so very much. Very helpful and new information for me.

I am 2 weeks post op after small bowel resection. There was only the one tumor in the ileum. I am going to see an oncologist in 2 weeks for frequent CT’s for surveillance of metastatic disease. Has anyone experienced Mets after surgical removal of primary grade 1 tumor?

I just finished PRRT for sm. Intestine NET primary w/ liver metastases. I choose 3mo follow-up MRIs using w&wo Evoist contrast as surveillance, as my best watchdog. My NET specialist at CoHope agreed.
NET patients need to be proactive due to fact that our type of cancer can exhibit itself anywhere with unknown progression. So we need a good watchdog (no radiation exposure with MRI and best visualization of liver tumor size)!
That’s my best suggestion following NET liver treatment. 🙂

MRI’s are net specialists choice to monitor the liver tumors. They’re visualized much better than CT scans. Bonus is less radiation exposures

@splendrous While I don't have liver METs, I do have many pancreatic cysts. Every other year I have an MRI. I prefer the MRI because of the lack of radiation exposure. As a CT is less expensive, it may be a more appropriate choice depending on your insurance coverage.

There are a lot of factors to consider.

Did you have the small intestine net removed? Was the liver Mets found when you were originally diagnosed with the intestinal net?

I have had no surgery. Surgeon offered radical stomach, gallbladder, spleen, much intestine reduction - I declined. I chose 4 infusions Beta PRRT Lutathera as my treatment and so happy to report a great response! The Dotatate Gallium PET scan and Evovist Contrast w&w/o MRI Abdomen/Pelvis revealed position and size of tumors. The NET diagnosis was made by Endoscopic biopsy (none invasive).

What a great report, @dbamos1945! I appreciate you sharing your journey with NETs. So that our newer members understand, is Beta PRRT different from the PRRT that many members have mentioned?

Non-invasive surgeries and biopsies (by endoscopy) are so much easier to recover from and can often be done as an outpatient. My first two surgeries (for rather small NETs) were done by an invasive surgery (3-hour surgery plus a 5 -7 day hospital stay). My third surgery was done by endoscopy and I was in and out in the morning.

I have LiverNET and receive a CT and PET scan every 90 days. Here is some quick info on the differences between CT, Pet and MRI's.

Computed tomography (CT) scans use X-rays. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans use magnets and radio waves. Both produce still images of organs and body structures.

PET scans use a radioactive tracer to show how an organ is functioning in real time. PET scan images can detect cellular changes in organs and tissues earlier than CT and MRI scans. Your healthcare provider may perform a PET scan and CT scan at the same time (PET-CT). This combination test produces 3D images that allow for a more accurate diagnosis.

Some hospitals now use a hybrid PET/MRI scan. This new technology creates extremely high-contrast images. Providers mainly use this type of scan for diagnosing and monitoring cancers of the soft tissues (brain, head and neck, liver and pelvis).

What does a PET scan check for?
Your healthcare provider may order a PET scan to check for signs of:

Cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer and thyroid cancer.
Coronary artery disease, heart attack or other heart problems.
Brain disorders, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
When would I need a PET scan?
In general, a PET scan can measure vital functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use and blood sugar (glucose) metabolism. It can also identify organs and tissues that aren’t working as they should.

If your healthcare provider suspects you may have cancer, they’ll likely recommend a PET scan, which can detect cancer and/or make a diagnosis.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer, your provider may recommend more than one PET scan throughout your treatment to:
Determine whether the cancer has spread in your body (metastasized).
Assess the effectiveness of treatment.
Determine if the cancer has returned after treatment (recurred).
Evaluate the prognosis (outlook) of the cancer.
In general, PET scans are safe and rarely cause problems. The amount of radiation in the radioactive tracer is very low. It doesn’t stay in your body for long. You should drink lots of water after a PET scan to help flush the radioactive drug from your body.

Teresa: There is a newer version of the original Beta PRRT in advanced clinical trials now. The Alpha PRRT from what I understand is also directed to the targeted cancer cells, but more “highly active” in destroying the cell nucleus and remaining active longer in the body. Time will tell Alpha PRRT treatment success vs. Beta PRRT and it is beneficial to remain as educated as possible to all prospective treatments.
PRRT remains a Miracle in my book! Best of health to all…