Have you had an fMRI or PET?

[kristoff]

I am interested in hearing from readers who have had an fMRI or PET scan.

What was the reason given for ordering the scan(s)? And how were your results interpreted?

 

[Pyrrhus]

I assume when you say "PET", you are referring to FDG-PET?

I believe that fMRI is only administered in a research setting, not by a doctor.

I hope this helps.

 

[minimus]

I had a PET-CT scan last fall. It was prescribed by a hematologist/oncologist as part of a workup for neutropenia and neuropathy to rule out an underlying malignancy. A neurologist involved in evaluating me said that PET-CT scans usually need to be prescribed by hematologists/oncologists in the US, as they know how to get insurers to authorize them here. The results were negative/normal.

Maybe 20 years ago, I also had an fMRI by a PhD radiology researcher at Columbia University named Dikamo Shungu, who was evaluating ME/CFS patients for abnormal levels of lactate in the brain. It was like a regular brain MRI. @Pyrrhus is correct - fMRI is used in research settings and isn’t available in medical settings. The reason I know this is that I got in touch with Shungu a few years ago and he said I could only get an fMRI if I were a participant in one of his research studies, and even then he could not provide me with my results because of the need for blinding.

 

[Martin aka paused||M.E.]

I assume when you say "PET", you are referring to FDG-PET?

I believe that fMRI is only administered in a research setting, not by a doctor.

I hope this helps.

I think that's wrong. There is a hospital in I think Hannover that has an fMRI. At least that's what I've heard.