Pet or CT scan

jams67

I'm allergic to iodine and have to have steriods when I get a CT scan and that takes serveral days to work its way out of my system. I usually don't get a Pet scan, but I don't remember it bothering me as much. I'm NED right now and the onc mentioned that next time maybe we could just do the Pet scan. Now I'm wondering if it will tell the entire story by itself. I would want to do the one that gives the best picture of what is going on in there. I don't have to have this done for several months, but I do have an appointment next week for bloodwork etc., and I'll be taling to the onc then.
Jo Ann

jerseysue

Hi JoAnn hope all is well with you and your husband. I do no that Pet scans could see more then CT scans. However if the activity is to small the PET scan will not pick it up. Hope this helps. Have a great Christmas and a safe New Year.

KathiM

They each do different things...PET shows only active, metabolizing 'stuff' (could be cancer, could be healing scar tissue...has to be in the uptake mode....my untreated breast cancer didn't show on the second PET for my rectal, but it was definately there...just damaged (not gone) from the chemo for the colon treatments.

CT scan shows masses. Sort of like a topographical map.

I, too, react to the contrast (sigh...didn't used to....just too much garbage processed in my system in a short time). My onc nurse told me to WAY ramp up my hydration the 2 days BEFORE the CT....that way, more of it processes straight thru....then, take a bottle of water WITH you to the scan....chug it afterwards while you are dressing....

I've done that....had to pee like crazy....but it DID help the reaction....

Hugs, Kathi

Limey

Hi Jo Ann. I do a combo ct/pet scan but without the die as I only have one functioning kidney now. I aksed specifically if the scan picks up less without the dye and i was told no.
All will be fine with you. just believe it. best of luck on the scan when it does come up
Mark

sladich

Hi Jo Ann,

I get a CT/PET every 2-3 months and have found that the CT picks up smaller lesions. The PET usually has to be 1cm to show up. If something showed up on the PET could you then have a CT? I rely on both with my history. Best of luck.

Debbie

scouty

Hi Jo Ann,

I developed an allergy to the dye also and the roids didn't help at all. My onc didn't want me to do a PET since I had never had one for a benchmark and at my age, all sorts of things would probably light up. I now have an abdominal and pelvic MRI and chest X-Ray along with the usual bloodwork.

Give a hug to Don from me!!!!!

Hugs to you too, Lisa P.

shmurciakova

I was going to suggest an MRI instead. I think it is equally if not better than CT, but it takes longer and is more expensive.
I am allergic to the iodine too. I refused the steroids. I just get 25-50 mg of IV Benadryl beforehand and I have never had a problem, but if you have a severe allergy, MRI might be the better alternative. PET scans are usually used after something appears on a CT, to determine whether or not the "thing" is cancer.
-Susan

shmurciakova

scouty said:

Hi Jo Ann,

I developed an allergy to the dye also and the roids didn't help at all. My onc didn't want me to do a PET since I had never had one for a benchmark and at my age, all sorts of things would probably light up. I now have an abdominal and pelvic MRI and chest X-Ray along with the usual bloodwork.

Give a hug to Don from me!!!!!

Hugs to you too, Lisa P.

Interesting, I was going to ask my onc about MRIs when I see her this Friday. I am a bit concerned about the excessive # of CT scans I have had over the years, probably 20 all told! Also, I might try to get pregnant in 2008, as I already told you!! So, I would not be able to get a CT scan if that is the case.
Cheers,
Susan

jams67

shmurciakova said:

I was going to suggest an MRI instead. I think it is equally if not better than CT, but it takes longer and is more expensive.
I am allergic to the iodine too. I refused the steroids. I just get 25-50 mg of IV Benadryl beforehand and I have never had a problem, but if you have a severe allergy, MRI might be the better alternative. PET scans are usually used after something appears on a CT, to determine whether or not the "thing" is cancer.
-Susan

My allergies are pretty bad to bunches of stuff. Are you allergic to shellfish and bananas also?

shmurciakova

jams67 said:

My allergies are pretty bad to bunches of stuff. Are you allergic to shellfish and bananas also?

I never was allergic to shellfish until I started getting all these scans. Now sometimes when I eat shrimp my face gets all red, but I still eat them anyway.
I am not allergic to bananas though, do they have iodine in them?

hopefulone

Hi Jo Ann
We were also told that small lesions sometimes do not show up on pet scans. I don't know, but is there something maybe they can give you so as not to have the allergic reaction if they do a ct? I wish you well . Also, will an mri accomplish anything? I'm sure your onc will figure something out. Congrats on the NED and I hope you enjoy the holiday season. God Bless
Diane

jams67

shmurciakova said:

I never was allergic to shellfish until I started getting all these scans. Now sometimes when I eat shrimp my face gets all red, but I still eat them anyway.
I am not allergic to bananas though, do they have iodine in them?

No bananas don't have iodine, but I think they may be related to the iodine/shellfish allergy. Not sure of this. If you get hives for no known reason, think about bananas as a cause. My daughter Brook gets them too and calls them "banana bumps." She has lots of allergies but not to shellfish.
Jo Ann

scouty

shmurciakova said:

I never was allergic to shellfish until I started getting all these scans. Now sometimes when I eat shrimp my face gets all red, but I still eat them anyway.
I am not allergic to bananas though, do they have iodine in them?

The last time I had a scan and the nasty reaction before I even got out of the machine (even with roids and a shot of benedryl), it took 3 more shots to stop the itching and lobster look. While waiting to be cleared to leave from a doc, the nurses/technicians told me the CT contrast no longer contained iodine so I did not have to worry about eating shellfish. I have no idea if they are right or not but I have eaten shrimp, crab, and lobster with no problems since then. And I can eat bananas too.

My onc told me an MRI was especially effective at looking at the liver, even more so then a CT scan. I guess that is why my surgeon ordered one before my surgery and that was after a CT scan.

Good question.

CEA is also a good indicator for me so I have no idea what we will do if it ever starts going up. Hopefully I will never have to worry about that but you just never know.

Lisa P.