what a difference a typo makes...

A few posts ago, I mentioned the fact that my spleen was stupidly enlarged and that it appeared that it had got much much bigger during the last 18 months. I went back to hospital not long ago for a check up and raised this issue with the consultant. Sypmathising with the situation, he had a look at the results and compared the most recent ultrasound scan with one done 18 months ago and also with an MRI scan that was done at the same time. Judging by the MRI, it appears that there was a typing error in the ultrasound that was done at the same time. The result given was that my spleen was 16cm back in Feb 2010 and 24 cm in July 2011. Looking at the MRI however, showed that my spleen extends right down to the pelvis and was certainly much bigger than the 16cm given by the ultra sound scan indicating that it had, in fact, been 26cm in Feb 2010! Whilst looking at the MRI images was quite scary- I could see exactly where my spleen stopped being protected by the rib cage and how the surface of the liver was bobbly, scarred and slightly shrivelled looking- it was quite reassuring to know that there has not been that much of a dramatic change in the size of the spleen. The concern was that had there been a dramatic increase in size, it would mean that the spleen was being worked much harder than it should have been and could have meant that a liver transplant may be needed sooner than expected. Since everything seems to be pretty stable at the moment though, it is still very much in the future. For now.

Jen x