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I-131 Scan Asymmetric Uptake and No PET/CT?!!!
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Jan 02, 2011 - 10:29 pm
I had mixed follicular/papillary thyroid cancer. Total thyroidectomy in 1988, with I-131 ablation in 1989. In 1990, the cancer came back and I had another I-131 ablation. I had clean scans until October 2010 when an I-131 scan showed "asymmetric radioiodine accumulation in the right submandibular region, which may represent physiologic uptake within the right submandibular salivary gland." My thyroglobulin was less than 20, but there is no specific number. Should I have had a PET/CT to rule out cancer in the salivary gland? If not, why not? Is there something other than cancer that can cause an uptake? Since the thyroid scan, I am being treated for endometrial cancer and I am thinking it would be noce to have PET/CT to find out if the cancer has spread more than what they could tell during surgery (stage 3). If the PET/CT showed additional spread, I would want chemo followed by external radiation, rather than only the external radiation that has been recommended. Do I now a have a valid reason to have whole body PET/CT? Thank you, in advance. |
Joined: Oct 2009
What have your docs concluded from that latest scan in October? Do they believe you have active thyroid cancer/thyroid cells within the salivary gland area? Are they proposing additional I-131 ablation? If I understand correctly, you had uptake of the I-131 which usually seems to suggest that the docs would first try I-131 ablation to see if the cells can be killed that way. If an ablation dose is not in the cards are they suggesting external beam radiation for that area of your salivary gland - or is the ex beam you mention for the treatment of the endometrial cancer?
Mayo ordered a PET/CT for me before I had external beam radiation for my thyroid cancer. I was glad they did as I was curious about spread as well. Turns out I did have nodules outside the neck. PET/CTs expose you to a fair amount of radiation and are expensive to boot so they seem to order them sparingly. Have you asked your oncologist(s) about having one? I'd definitely bring it up with them to learn the thought process on that one. Wish I could help more.
Best to you.
Joined: Jan 2011