To detect meningioma, spending an MRI is essential. But this clinical examination can be anxiety for the patient.

In our Facebook group , many people have spoken to us as part of a first exam or when the stress is followed by MRI, a medical examination carried out in the clinic or in the hospital.

Indeed, several factors generate stress for the patient. The purpose of the clinical examination itself because passing an MRI of the brain is not trivial and meningioma is a serious disease. It is also very classic to feel claustrophobia when the patient is in the machine allowing to take the shots of the brain. Also the duration of an MRI, about fifteen minutes which is relatively long. And to finish, the expectations of the results, a moment sometimes difficult to pass for the patient.

Méningioma visible under MRI: injection of a contrast product

The brain MRI also requires the injection of a gadolinium -based contrast product which is the subject of monitoring by the ANSM (National Agency for the Safety of the Medicine). Some doctors rely on the “dangerousness” of this drug so as not to prescribe this clinical examination but nothing is proven to date. In particular in terms of cumulative dose, from when it could become dangerous is not known at present. The injection of this product can be essential for meningiomas to appear on MRI shots .

Meningioma: scanner or MRI?

There have also been many discussions on the detection of meningioma by scanner or MRI . Some doctors have prescribed scanners in this context. This last examination is much less stressful. The device is more open and the examination lasts shorter. However, during all discussions with neurosurgeons or during meetings with the ANSM , in all the ANSM publications on the subject of the Androcur , a scanner has never been mentioned to detect meningiomas. There has always been a question of brain MRI . Passing a complementary scanner can be important, for example if the meningioma also lodges in the bones of the skull, case of sphen-organic meningioma .

Currently, the appointment for an MRI is often long

Today, waiting times for this clinical examination which requires advanced equipment is sometimes long, between two and six months. This expectation can also prove to be difficult.
For patients treated with Androcur for whom to spend an MRI quickly is important, the Neuro-Sainte-Anne center has been set up by a specialized course:

• Sainte-Anne - Information Professional Health-Meningioma screening circuit (PDF file of 1 page)

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