josh: OK - I'm taking a shot at it. I can't be 100% sure that I'm showing the right pictures. I'm using a free program called mango to view the images that I downloaded, and I'm taking screen shots of what I think is important -- that is to say, what reminds me of things that my neuro-oncologist showed me which were indeed important.
The thing that is giving me doubts is that the software in the doctor's office shows the left and right sides of the images in a way that seems reversed to me (but is well marked) -- I think this is due to the way/approach the MRI records the information. For that reason, my problem area, which is on my left side, shows up on the right side of the pictures I see in the doctor's office.
What I'm seeing in mango shows up on the left side, but I don't see indicators that would inform me that the sides appear reversed - I still have a lot to learn about this stuff. Anyway, enough disclaimers:
I think this would show the images from bottom (the first one ) to middle (the last one) of the area that I'm guessing is important. The view is from top to bottom or bottom to top - not sure, but I'm sure it's not front to back or back to front. That sort of S shaped thing on the left of each picture would be a slice of the top of my ear.
I'm *pretty* sure I'm looking at the "contrast" images for pulling these screenshots - for the last part of the MRI, they inject you with something that will show up bright white when it mixes with water.
Yes, tumors show up as white in contrast images, but in this case, it would be an area of damage/recovery from the radiation treatment. And the area surrounds the now shrinking hole from the surgery (the center of the donut - haha). So if you look at the last selfie that I posted, this is what would be going on behind the newly hairless part by my ear.
At least that's my interpretation based on what my doctor told me when we were looking at the images together.
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