Is ct scan with barium and iv appropriate

[traveler]

My DX is seminoma 1A post left radical orchectomy. I had my first chest,abdomen and pelvis scan with IV dye only 2 months ago. No metastasis. Yahoo. Now I am set for a follow up scan tomorrow but they are going to use barium sulfate plus the IV. My treatment plan is surveillance. Wouldn't the barium block some of the lymph nodes that should be seen with the dye? I thought barium was for colon stomach CA etc. Anyone have an opinion. I just wonder why they didn't do barium the first CT scan.

Also I saw an article stating that whole milk was as diagnostic as the barium.

Here is one of many articles:
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/milk-beats-barium-ct-contrast-agent-16581.html

[Scott]

I'd missed the publicity about whole milk as a contrast agent. Sounds like a good alternative to me!

The barium won't block anything. It just makes it easier to differentiate among body parts in the scans.

[traveler]

I'd missed the publicity about whole milk as a contrast agent. Sounds like a good alternative to me!

The barium won't block anything. It just makes it easier to differentiate among body parts in the scans.

Thanks for the reply Scott. I feel much better about the scan.
About the milk versus barium ,there are many reports when I Google'd it. I am going to ask the exam center to experiment with me if they want.
I don't expect them to comply but if they do I will come back and report.

[ukboyuk]

I had the gastrografin too. I believe it is a diabetic drug? I could be wrong there.

They mixed it with cheapo concentrated orange flavour drink mix. Didn't even notice the taste of the gastrografin. I did have diareah but that was probably due to eating nothing that day prior to downing a couple of litres of water.

[traveler]

The scan went well and I am clear. The barium was chilled and blackberry flavored was not bad. The herniation from the surgery on the left side is almost healed but a new herniation with fat deposit was found on the right inguinal?
I am also worried about the Testosterone, (Cyprionate) injections causing my one testicle to shut down. I have always, for years been low, (167 ng/dl) and at my age I should be about 350 to 550 ng/dl. Oh well it makes me feel so much better including my posture I should be grateful for it.

[traveler]

Thanks Paul54, always good to hear from you. Do you think the benefits of HRT outweighs the drop in innate testosterone?

[detaildevil]

I had my CT-scan today, so I asked about milk as a contrast agent. The tech/nurse said that they use milk as a contrast agent, but it's not suitable for the full abdomino-pelvic scan. Milk works for the stomach and duodenum, but doesn't work as required for the lower end.

Not a definitive answer, but at least there's a little more "meat" on the topic for anyone else with curiosity about milk as a contrast agent.

Congrats on the all-clear.

[ukboyuk]

btw traveler, did you check your stools after your barium? It is common to have white coloured stools after barium! I experienced this myself when I had a barium X-ray for recurrent heartburn a few years back!

[btp]

My DX is seminoma 1A post left radical orchectomy. I had my first chest,abdomen and pelvis scan with IV dye only 2 months ago. No metastasis. Yahoo. Now I am set for a follow up scan tomorrow but they are going to use barium sulfate plus the IV. My treatment plan is surveillance. Wouldn't the barium block some of the lymph nodes that should be seen with the dye? I thought barium was for colon stomach CA etc. Anyone have an opinion. I just wonder why they didn't do barium the first CT scan.

Also I saw an article stating that whole milk was as diagnostic as the barium.

Here is one of many articles:
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/milk-beats-barium-ct-contrast-agent-16581.html

I, too, was surprised that I had to drink two pints of liquid chalk AND get an IV full of dye injected into my body. I guess that's normal for getting our lymphs scanned.

Still, I'd rather drink just about anything than get an IV. Hopefully my disdain for getting poked goes away as I get poked more.