can a sinus CT miss something important?

[crazymommy]

Hi all.... so I have posted about this before but I am really having trouble letting it go completely. Back in Sept I went to the allergist for hives, he did a thorough exam including looking up my nose with this litte camera thingy and said he saw something "not like anything he has seen before"  So he sent me to an ENT. The ENT was not worried but sent me for a sinus CT just to check what it is.  When the results came back the radiologist said it was nothing, the ENT looked at the scans and said it's nothing to worry about, probably an early polyp or papilloma.  Back to the allergist later, he asked about it and when I told him what the ENT said he asked "he didn't want to biopsy it or anything?"  At first I confidently said no and just put it out of my head.

Well, since then, this has been creeping back into my head  I am noticing that the nostril that had this "thing" feels different.  I have to say, I noticed that before but didn't care, I figured it was just one of those things - nobody is perfectly symmetric.  But I read that having a polyp in only one nose is unusual and could be cancer, also read that some papillomas could be cancer.  So now I am worrying about it.  Bottom line, do you all think that a CT scan would see something worrisome?  Or should I have kind of insisted that there be a biopsy of whatever this is?????  I'm so tired of thinking about it.  I am constantly noting the difference between my nostrils, how much air gets into one vs the other when I breathe etc.  I'm driving myself nuts.

Any advice?  Thanks :)

[ColdHands]

If the first doctor thought it needed a biopsy, why didn't he order it?  If you still think you need a biopsy, tell the original doctor to order one for you.

Doctors are so worried to step on another doctors toes, they sometimes won't override another doctor unless you ask for it. 

[LindaRK]

If you're really concerned about the diagnosis get a second opinion of the scan from another radiologist.  Also, did you get the radiologist's report?  You can read for yourself what they found.

I always do this - even before the doc gets it, I go the hospital and request the report.  It's free and usually available within 24-48 hours of the scan or x-ray.

I just had a sinus scan, too ..... nothing found, but the symptoms are there.  Pretty frustrating, I know - but could be anxiety again.

[crazymommy]

See, I am trying hard to trust doctors a bit more.  So I am hesitant to get on that merry go round of testing.   A radiologist and ENT said it's nothing.  I didn't get the report, but the ENT looked at it and read me the relevant parts while I was there.  Basically said there was nothing of concern.  And to be honest, even the allergist seemed to be asking more as a way of checking off something in his head, he was writing his report as I sat there and he just asked incidentally as he was writing.  It's not that he was asking in a surprised way.  When he sent me to the ENT he said he was pretty sure it was nothing but that he was anal about such things and wanted it to be checked. He said that 8 out of 10 allergists wouldn't have even mentioned it to, let alone sent me to an ENT.

So I am trying to figure out ..... is this where rational people without HA move on???  Do you think it's safe for me to let this go or does it sound to you like something you would investigate further?   I can't figure out the difference anymore between me being crazy vs me kind of advocating for myself, you know?  I guess I am mostly looking for reassurance that it's OK to stop worrying about this.  But I am also looking for someone to tell me to keep getting it checked out if that's what it seems like I should do.  I just don't even trust myself to determine the difference anymore.

[Jeannddp]

Well, let that notion creep back out of your head. An allergist is NOT an ENT and you had a CAT scan which stated you were fine. Let sleeping dogs lie. If I had a nickel for every time that has happened to myself or someone I know, I'd be rich and I'm not. Second of all, if the small growth is a polyp which it probably is not, there is nothing to get crazy about. I think it's vere rare to have one of those turn cancerous. My dad, BIL and friend's hubby all had that and it WAS NOT cancerous. It was just a nuisance and they're fine. Feel better.

Jeanne

[crazymommy]

Thanks Jeannddp.  I am trying so hard to think about what someone else would do in the same scenario.... someone without HA.  It feels so obvious that they wouldn't be worried.  But then that awful little what if voice comes back.  I can't shut it up completely because I keep thinking maybe I am not being responsible.  Maybe I should be getting it checked out some more.