PET Scan, has anyone had one that was bright yellow and later found out that it was inflammation, no

Angelasmom2
Angelasmom2 Member Posts: 146
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Angela's PET scan showed bright yellow. Her doctor and California said the cancer was back. The doctor at Anderson said that inflammation can cause the PET scan to show bright yellow and said she had to have a biopsy to know for sure if the cancer is back. Does anyone know how common it is for a PET scan to show bright yellow and only be inflammation? Linda

Comments

  • Cafewoman53
    Cafewoman53 Member Posts: 735 Member
    #2
    not sure
    I'm pretty sure is is very common that is why they don't want you to exercise before a pet scan and they keep you quiet and warm an hour before.
    Colleen
  • 123missy
    123missy Member Posts: 26
    #3
    Cafewoman53 said:

    not sure
    I'm pretty sure is is very common that is why they don't want you to exercise before a pet scan and they keep you quiet and warm an hour before.
    Colleen

    PET - yellow area
    Yes, I had a CT scan last July and it had a yellow (sign of activity) My doc felt like it was inflammation from the surgery so we did a needle biopsy and sure enough that was what it was. The rest of the scan was clear.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #4
    HUGS & PRAYERS
    So sorry to hear Angela is going through so much. The other ladies offered some good feedback. And I can agree that inflammation could be a cause of the highlighted areas. There's no doubt that inflammation can also cause a spike in the CA125 levels. Please get back to us and let us know what they find out.

    Till then, sending lots of prayers to all of you.

    Monika
  • Cindy Bear
    Cindy Bear Member Posts: 569
    #5
    Bright yellow???
    Not sure what that means.. they measure the pet scan by SUV.. standard uptake volume. The theory being that the cancerous cells are more active and will take up more of the radioactive glucose.. my mothr's gyn/onc. described it as sort of geiger counter reading . anything over 2.7 is most likely malignancy is what we were told..... what were Angela's SUV nos? Do you know?
    Anyhow, praying and hoping that the cancer isn't back....
    Hugs,
    Cindy
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #6
    Cindy Bear said:

    Bright yellow???
    Not sure what that means.. they measure the pet scan by SUV.. standard uptake volume. The theory being that the cancerous cells are more active and will take up more of the radioactive glucose.. my mothr's gyn/onc. described it as sort of geiger counter reading . anything over 2.7 is most likely malignancy is what we were told..... what were Angela's SUV nos? Do you know?
    Anyhow, praying and hoping that the cancer isn't back....
    Hugs,
    Cindy

    In a PET scan they inject
    In a PET scan they inject glucose attached to a radioactive tracer. Cancer, normal fast-dividing cells, and "active" areas of the body eat up the glucose and thus take up the tracer. This causes what we call the "light up." On the color screen, it looks like a heat map where the brightest and hottest areas (red, yellows) -- represent the uptake areas.

    The highest concentration of these molecules will occur in areas of hypermetabolic activity, i.e., tumors, which will show up on the PET scan as bright yellow and white spots like a sunburst in an otherwise dark sky. Trauma to the tissues will also cause the PET scan to light up, so it makes sense that inflammation might look suspicious, as well.

    Carlene
  • Angela_BRCA1
    Angela_BRCA1 Member Posts: 4
    #7
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    In a PET scan they inject
    In a PET scan they inject glucose attached to a radioactive tracer. Cancer, normal fast-dividing cells, and "active" areas of the body eat up the glucose and thus take up the tracer. This causes what we call the "light up." On the color screen, it looks like a heat map where the brightest and hottest areas (red, yellows) -- represent the uptake areas.

    The highest concentration of these molecules will occur in areas of hypermetabolic activity, i.e., tumors, which will show up on the PET scan as bright yellow and white spots like a sunburst in an otherwise dark sky. Trauma to the tissues will also cause the PET scan to light up, so it makes sense that inflammation might look suspicious, as well.

    Carlene

    Thanks Mom! I love you!
    Thanks Mom! I love you!

    Thank you everyone for taking time to share your experience, encouragement and prayers! Sending prayers back for a beautiful healthy year for each of you.

    Angela
  • Angelasmom2
    Angelasmom2 Member Posts: 146
    #8
    Angela_BRCA1 said:

    Thanks Mom! I love you!
    Thanks Mom! I love you!

    Thank you everyone for taking time to share your experience, encouragement and prayers! Sending prayers back for a beautiful healthy year for each of you.

    Angela

    From Mom
    It is so great to see you on this board. You will get alot of support from these great ladies and very good info. It seems cancer stikes the best of the best people. Mom
  • JuneGer
    JuneGer Member Posts: 1
    #9
    Angela_BRCA1 said:

    Thanks Mom! I love you!
    Thanks Mom! I love you!

    Thank you everyone for taking time to share your experience, encouragement and prayers! Sending prayers back for a beautiful healthy year for each of you.

    Angela

    Hope you are well

    I know it was a long time ago but I just wonder what was the outcome of the scan, was the yellow areas cancer or just inflammation? Know of a similar misleading experience. Best wishes to you x

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