what's the smallest size ?

alta29
alta29 Member Posts: 435 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
what's the smallest size that a tumor has to measure to be seen on a pet scan ? Yeah I know...me and my complicated questions . The reason why I am asking is because the CT showed 3 nodules in my right lung, but 3 weeks later they don't show in the pet.The largest one was 9mm. Maybe my Ozone treatments and foot detox are working ? Or like the pet scan suggested, they r 2 small to be detected ? I am going 4 the 1st option. !

Comments

  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #2
    Well, generally speaking I think they need to be 1cm in size, but 9mm is very close and I would think that one would have "lit up". I am pretty sure there are others on this board who have had nodules smaller than 1cm light up...I know it sucks being in this "watching and waiting" mode. I have been there! What is your CEA doing? Is it a good indicator for you?
    Best wishes,
    Susan
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #3
    I think the usual answer is 1 cm but I did a search on PubMed before and could not find anything that gives a definite answer. Unfortunnately you have to wait to see for sure. Are these spots new? I can't remember if you had previous scans. Many of us have nodules in the lungs and liver which have been stable throughout and are just cysts or something like that.
    I'm hoping they are old for you as well.

    ****
  • sladich
    sladich Member Posts: 429 Member
    #4
    On my recent PET a 7mm lesion showed up. This same nodule has been showing up on my CT scans since it was 3mm. The density of the lesion has changed, that's why it "glowed" on the PET this time. The Standard Uptake Value (SUV) increased from 1.6 to 2.8 on this PET. I do think it needs to be around 1cm to usually show up on the PET.

    Debbie
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #5
    vinny3 said:

    I think the usual answer is 1 cm but I did a search on PubMed before and could not find anything that gives a definite answer. Unfortunnately you have to wait to see for sure. Are these spots new? I can't remember if you had previous scans. Many of us have nodules in the lungs and liver which have been stable throughout and are just cysts or something like that.
    I'm hoping they are old for you as well.

    ****

    Looking back at this we have to be careful about the topic headlines. Don't want SB to think it is a personal message (lol).
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #6
    vinny3 said:

    Looking back at this we have to be careful about the topic headlines. Don't want SB to think it is a personal message (lol).

    Ha ha! Too funny, that gave me a good giggle!
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #7
    CT shows biological (mass), PET shows actively 'living' and uptaking (eating) cells. My second PET scan did not 'light up' even my marble-sized lump in my breast,still cancer, just had been 'damaged' by the chemo for the colon.

    This is why many times at CT is overlayed with PET, done in the same machine.

    Hugs, kathi
  • alta29
    alta29 Member Posts: 435 Member
    #8
    vinny3 said:

    Looking back at this we have to be careful about the topic headlines. Don't want SB to think it is a personal message (lol).

    u are bad !!!

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