I am still trying to understand what I need to do to push for this Fiesta MRI. I asked for it with the ENT months ago and they didnt even know what I was talking about.
I know it is called different things depending on what machine is used. Does anyone know if the program can be run after the MRI was done? Also, what is the difference between the Fiesta and the Ciss. I think what I am seeing is that Fiesta-C is the same thing as CISS on siemans. Can someone dumb this down for me as to which one is the best for Vascular eagles. I saw another reference to a 3d CISS. Three-Dimensional Constructive Interference in Steady State (3D CISS) Imaging and Clinical Applications in Brain Pathology
For some reason, I can’t wrap my head around this Fiesta issue. The article I listed would seem to indicate 3d Ciss is the way to go.
Not sure if this helps: FIESTA-C - Questions and Answers ​in MRI (mriquestions.com)
It sounds as if fiesta C & the Ciss are the same as you’ve said, here’s a quote from the link:
FIESTA-C/CISS is currently the sequence of choice for CSF-cisternography for visualizing cranial nerves at the skull base. When used in the 3D mode, it provides high signal from CSF based on T2/T1 contrast and high spatial resolution. Furthermore, like FIESTA/TrueFISP, it has inherent flow compensation because of its perfectly balanced gradients.
I’ve only had a quick search to see where it’s possible to get one, there was a YouTube clip of using it to diagnose TN by a Dr Steven Chang, an Otolaryngologist at Stanford.
It’s supposed to be excellent for cranial nerves, but for VES a CT with contrast is the best scan…
This is where I have the disconnect. So you get a CT scan (or CTA in my case) and it shows you have a problem with the IJV and you need surgery but it is not showing you the nerves that may be affected.
Because sufferers have a range of symptoms that can be caused by many things it would seem advantageous to get the Fiesta-C while wrangling all the other issues. Call it a differential diagnosis.
I have seen some here come back after surgery and say Doctor said it wasn’t really the styloids causing the problem.
I guess what I am trying to figure out is if you can find a place that actually does this scan is it beneficial to do it? I think the answer is yes but am trying to find a way to craft it to make it so.
@JugularEagle - You’ll most likely find a machine that can do a FIESTA MRI (someone told me it’s specific software program vs a specific type of MRI machine) at the larger hospitals around the US. The example of Stanford was given so I’d suspect other large medical centers in the US would have the capability. I’m sorry we don’t have a list of facilities that do this scan, but it may eventually become more common & more readily available as much of our current technology, medical & otherwise, has.
I just tried Googling - “Where can I get a FIESTA MRI” & several places in my current location were listed. You could try that approach then take the info to your PCP or ENT for a referral.