Mahsa Pazokifard, who lives in Orange County, California, was diagnosed with IgG4-related disease in 2022. She shares the types of tests that helped her healthcare team to diagnose her condition, and her advice on how to ensure the testing is effective.
Transcript
In confirming my diagnosis, the specific tests that were very helpful were biopsies. This is true for everybody, to be honest with you. You want to figure out where the problem is.
A PET-CT scan showed all of my inflamed glands. So a PET-CT scan with contrast really helped me identify the glands that I wanted to have biopsied. Then we went forward and had those biopsied.
Radiological scans, MRIs, and PET-CTs are usually the way to go. And then biopsy any gland, tumor, mass, or even inflammation. You can biopsy inflammation.
I would also suggest not being on steroids before going into any of these tests, because the tests will not show the full truth or the full pathology behind it. Steroids can mask things.
