Wednesday, October 04, 2006

I thought you all might be interested in seeing a before and after MRI scan:


The left image is before the surgery and the right image is after the surgery. You can think of the image as if it were taken by a camera near Karen's feet looking up through the bottom of her brain. The mass was about 5 centimeters in diameter.

The right arrow points to the white object which for the most part represents the tumor.
The left arrow is pointing to the left ventricle. The ventricles are the dark areas in the middle of the brain. There is one on each side of the brain and they should be symmetrical. As you can see from the left image the ventricle on the right side is being compressed.

After the surgery the ventricles were more symmetrical after the pressure had been released and it's pretty obvious that a lot of that tumor had been removed.

You can also see in the picture on the right the swelling that took place after the surgery on the side of her head.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, the difference between the two MRI's is amazing - and it appears to me the changes have to be more than just from the surgeon's knife.
Praise God!
Dave and Karen, we'll continue to be in prayer for you.
Blessings,
Gretchen

Erik Wait said...

I had a picture like that taken of my brain once. I had a strange echoing in my ears so I went to see a doctor. After they looked at the MRI it turned out all that was in there was a “For Rent” sign. Who woulda guessed? But now there are two Starbucks stores in there, one for each hemisphere. Man! Those things are everywhere!

Marie said...

What, no wine bar, Erik?

Anonymous said...

LOL, Erik! Too funny.

The MRI is incredible, such wonderful technology. Made me remember the time, almost 30 years ago, when my Dad ( a house painter by trade) had raised up under an open metal-framed window and konked his head. Hard enough to cause a blood clot. The surgeons went in for the surgery with only an xray to guide them. Yikes! Everything turned out okay, thankfully. Im so thankful that your doctors have such wonderful technology at their fingertips, and that God is the one watching over all.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the MRIs Dave...that was so interesting! Have been checking the blog regularly although I haven't posted. We have been hit hard by some really bad flu bug this week! Everyone but myself has gotten it...YIKES! Praying that I can sit this one out! :)

We continue to be in prayer for you all! Was so relieved that the meeting with the doctors went well. Will pray for wisdom and direction in the decisions that are still to be made...and that the radiation treatment...whenever Karen chooses to do it...will not have any lasting effects on her memory.

We love you all and continue to lift you up before our Heavenly Father! Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Melanie...for the Lopez gang