Dimple on Baby's Nose and MRI

Bacterial meningitis, especially in the very young, is deadly. Of course, it can merely cause brain damage and/or permanent nerve damage. Also, the test to see if one has it & what type it is once a person is suspected of having it, is also dangerous and extremely painful(withdrawing fluid from the spinal chord).

I am not telling you what to do, merely to take it very very seriously.

I WOULD highly recommend a second opinion not because the process sounds like a Pain In the A** (after you've just been through months of PIA's and this is on more), but because 1) it sounds like you aren't happy with your current pediatrician, and 2) because the only people I know who CONSISTENTLY get 2nd (and 3rd & 4th) opinions are Dr.s themselves. :)

Where I would also highly recommend looking for a pediatrician is Children's Hospital itself. Especially since you're looking at the possibility of at least one surgery there (and they're the BEST, so good on you), it would make it much easier on you to already have a friend in your corner, so to speak...as well as the logistics issue, of just being able to walk across the hall for just about everything you need.

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/ has a "physician finder" section of their website. Personally I always prefer calling, & talking to a person, so I can explain my situation. ###-###-####...I think option "2" is for help finding the right doctor or group.

Good Luck!!!

- Great question, M.--. As a Mom, grandmom, and preschool teacher I can tell you -- you have definitely been challenged. Congratulations on being ''upright and doing great''. The issue of meningitis is devastating so I hope you grit your teeth and go with the MRI-- the peace of mind is necessary . Childrens' Hospital is a marvelous resource - and they will make sure your little guy does not flinch if you need to go back several times - it really is an amazing place.

Blessings, and please let us know-

J.
aka Old Mom

It will probably be "waking sedation" for just a short time so he wont move. It will just last the time that he is in the MRI. If you are worried, why don't you ask the person who gives the MRI? And ask the doctor again. Your paying for it. Be firm. If he is too busy, get a different doctor. I've had a MRI. It doesn't hurt or interfere with body functions at all.

Hi M. my son was born with a dimple on the end of his nose, when he was 5 he got a huge pimple on the side of his nose the doctor gave him medicine for infection nothing happened, so puss continued coming out I went to the children's hospital and saw an ent my son had an MRI it came out that he had a cist he had surgery to remove it the doctor told me that the dimple is the possibility of the cist. My son has had 3 open heart surgeries he's been sedated many times no problems with sedation. I understand your fear but it's best to know what's behind the dimple good luck.

V.

Sounds like things have been rough for you and your little one!! First off, I would meet with a physician at Children's before you decide to do something you don't feel like you understand. There's nothing wrong with asking for a second opinion. As for a recommendation, we see Dr. Benda with Pediatric Associates and really like her. We've had a couple issues and I feel like their staff as a whole errs on the side of caution and I really appreciate that.

I understand this is an old posting but I came across your situation when looking for information for my daughter. She was born with a dimple on her nose and missing the cartilage at the tip of her nose. Her pediatrician sent her to a specialist at the Dell's Children's network and he, too, had her undergo an MRI to make sure she didn't have the same opening that leads to her brain. Luckily, results came back negative and now we are only faced with the treatment for her dimpled nose and missing cartilage. Can you email me at ____@____.com so we can email further?

The amount of sedation requied is minimal. The angst of not knowing what could or might be there is tremendous. The MRI is a non-invasive way finding out for certain what your baby is facing. Bacterial meningitis is life threatening, not something you want to put your fragile baby through. You can bet a second opinion at Children's. They have neurologists and ENT's on staff. Check with your insurance company first, to make sure that whoever you see is in your plan.

Knowledge is power. Talk with the docs at Childrens about the risk factors associated with MRI sedation. But know that the MRI is of little value if the baby can't hold his head still for the length of time required to get a clear and precise scan. I have annual MRI's of my brain and I take a mild sedative because I'm claustrophobic, and I'm scanned for about 45 minutes. It will be okay.

Dear M.:
You have been through alot- I am so sorry. I am not a fan of Polyclinic (my own experience), I love the University of Washington Medical Center however! Not only do I work here I get my care here too! I hear great things about the Pediatric Clinic- they are located at the Roosevelt building not the UW Hospital. Here is there number if you want to get a consultation: ###-###-####. Good luck- I hope you find answers.

-S.

Hi M.,
I'm sorry you are going through this. Worrying is no fun. I think getting a second opinion is worth your while. I also think that you should call your pediatrician's office and ask that s/he spend some time with you discussing the risks and benefits of the MRI. My children see Dr. Ruth Conn at Virgina Mason (main campus) and I HIGHLY recommend her. She is thoughtful, thorough, and I never feel rushed. She has also been available to talk with me by phone when had questions that did not require a doctor's visit.

My 4 year old son was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer when he was 15 months old. He has had a couple of MRIs of his head and 15+ CT scans at Children's over the past 3 years. (His type of cancer is known to metastasize to the brain). It is my understanding sedation is the bigger concern with MRIs. MRIs do not use radiation (unlike CT scans); however they require that your child is sedate for approximately 45-1 hour. Issues with sedation are rare, but they do happen. Thankfully Children's is an amazing hospital with a great group of anesthesiologists. These doctors are exceptionally well trained to deal with emergencies with very young children. Prior to (each) sedation the anesthesiologist comes in to discuss the procedure with you and answer ALL of your questions. I have always felt we were in good hands.

Another thing to consider in your decision making process is how you will feel when your child gets sick with the cold or flu? Are you going to worry and fret that it is menegitis? Would the knowledge you gain from the MRI out weigh the worry you might have not knowing? Just a though….

Good luck!

Have you tried Dr. Bowe at the Polyclinic? My husband is a physician and we hand picked Dr. Bowe.

M.- We are yet another family that has had wonderful experiences with Children's Hospital. I would go so far as to say that they saved my first son's life. They also did surgery on my second son (his little testi's were in the "up" position). When we had to go in for my second son's surgery it was by recomendation of his pediatrician as well. But, first we had a meeting with a urologist. Who then did the scan on my son, and they didn't exactly put him to sleep, but they sedated him so he didn't move. They can not get a good reading if the child is moving.
So, here's what I am saying.....First off, if your doctor recommends getting the MRI then you probably will first go in for a consultation with a specialist. You can bring up any concern that you have with them. There may even be a way to nurse (or bottle feed) your child so they are asleep and then they don't have to sedate him (I did this with my first son, he had multiple CT and MRI's). When I had the consultation with the urologist, they were GREAT! answered all my questions. Know that you are going to one of the very best children's hospital's in the northwest.
I am sorry that you have gone through so much with your first child. I too went through a TON with mine (we had a car accident when he was three weeks old, multiple broken bones, both lunges punctured and collapsed, blood and liquid in the brain, blood transfusions, and lacerated spleen and liver along with a bruised heart. Life support for almost a month) But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. My son is WONDERFUL..you would never know that he had any issues as a new born. I pray that you will not have any more issues either. It is so hard, and it is so worrisome, and sometimes it just doesn't seem fair. Things WILL get better.
L.

We have had experience with MRI and CT scans with our now 1.5 year old. He was 6.5 months when he had his first CT which they didn't think they were getting the whole picture needed so then at 9 month he was taken in for an MRI and then we just recently had a follow up CT.

The cold hard truth is they just don't know! They do know that the more scans a child or person goes through the more they are at risk. If you have a good doctor they wont put him through an MRI if he doesn't really feel he should. If you think maybe he is doing it just because then it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion somewhere else.

My son had fast head growth and we found out from the MRI and CT scans that he had fluid building in his head that we could then monitor. He has turned out to be very very healthy with no side effects of the fluid but we were at least able to know about the problem and make sure all is well.

We were able to do a lot of research on this because it is a more "common" as you might say problem. I would say do research but it might prove to be hard since it is maybe a unique problem that not many have dealt with.

I would say it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion. As far as getting the MRI at Children's we had a good experience it was hard to see our son go to sleep and even harder that we have to leave him after he is under but they were very good with him and very good and understanding with us.