PET & CT Scan?

msbrook2
msbrook2 Member Posts: 28
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
Hi there,

I just wondering if it is common to have both a CT and a PET scan within the same week (not on the same day) to check on how Lymphoma is responding to treatment.

Comments

  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #2
    PET/CT
    Mine are done on one machine and it's both CT and PET combined.
  • CountryGal7557
    CountryGal7557 Member Posts: 164 Member
    #3
    PET includes CT
    My oncologist informed me the PET (Full Body) includes a CT (neck to chest area). I would definitely ask. also ask if blood work alone could be used to indicate suspicious activity. that is how my onc. is going to monitor my checkups. he is not a fan of too many PET scans. ha! neither am I!
    Good Luck
    Janelle
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #4
    PET AND CT
    I agree with both what Dixiegirl and Countrygal have said. I certainly do not like all the radiation of the scans. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)
  • hilde451
    hilde451 Member Posts: 229 Member
    #5
    CountryGal7557 said:

    PET includes CT
    My oncologist informed me the PET (Full Body) includes a CT (neck to chest area). I would definitely ask. also ask if blood work alone could be used to indicate suspicious activity. that is how my onc. is going to monitor my checkups. he is not a fan of too many PET scans. ha! neither am I!
    Good Luck
    Janelle

    pet and cat scan
    I can not go by my blood tests. All the way from beginning to the end my blood work was great. Except when I had the Zevalin.
    Hope you get good results. I have had the pet scan and cat scan in the same week. So it is done. Hilde
  • Michele23
    Michele23 Member Posts: 168
    #6
    COBRA666 said:

    PET AND CT
    I agree with both what Dixiegirl and Countrygal have said. I certainly do not like all the radiation of the scans. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)

    Pet/CT
    My scans are done together also but it is very true they are not good to have too often.Michele
  • yesyes2
    yesyes2 Member Posts: 591
    #7
    Michele23 said:

    Pet/CT
    My scans are done together also but it is very true they are not good to have too often.Michele

    Scans
    It's my understanding that you can have a Pet Scan, a PET/CT, or a CT Scan and these are all different scans. Not all centers can do a PET/CT but do only PET. The CT on the Pet is only for organ and bone placement, it is not complete. It does not make individual slices of your body. If you drink a contrast material, for abdomen than you are getting a complete CT Scan but I don't know it that interfers with the sugar injection for the PET. Okay, this post is super confusing. Don't know if I clarified anything. I get either a full body CT with contrast or a PET/CT. Only time I get both is for staging.

    Have a wonderful Sunday,
    Leslie
  • forme
    forme Member Posts: 1,161 Member
    #8
    yesyes2 said:

    Scans
    It's my understanding that you can have a Pet Scan, a PET/CT, or a CT Scan and these are all different scans. Not all centers can do a PET/CT but do only PET. The CT on the Pet is only for organ and bone placement, it is not complete. It does not make individual slices of your body. If you drink a contrast material, for abdomen than you are getting a complete CT Scan but I don't know it that interfers with the sugar injection for the PET. Okay, this post is super confusing. Don't know if I clarified anything. I get either a full body CT with contrast or a PET/CT. Only time I get both is for staging.

    Have a wonderful Sunday,
    Leslie

    Scans
    Hi all,
    I have had many ct, angio/ct and pet/ct scans. When I have the pet/ct I also get IV contrast, so I get a full ct scan. Never had pet by itself. I guess it depends on what they want to see and know. Also depends on where, hosp, cancer center etc. Lots of radiation! My next set of scans is in about 12 weeks. Oh joy...
    Peaceful healing
    Lisha
  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #9
    forme said:

    Scans
    Hi all,
    I have had many ct, angio/ct and pet/ct scans. When I have the pet/ct I also get IV contrast, so I get a full ct scan. Never had pet by itself. I guess it depends on what they want to see and know. Also depends on where, hosp, cancer center etc. Lots of radiation! My next set of scans is in about 12 weeks. Oh joy...
    Peaceful healing
    Lisha

    Blood
    I too am like you Hilde, my bloodwork all along has been good. He's always been happy with that. I guess I have figured out how to confirm it's back. Mine seems to be nightsweats that is the major key.

    Take care, everyone,

    Beth
  • miss maggie
    miss maggie Member Posts: 929
    #10
    dixiegirl said:

    Blood
    I too am like you Hilde, my bloodwork all along has been good. He's always been happy with that. I guess I have figured out how to confirm it's back. Mine seems to be nightsweats that is the major key.

    Take care, everyone,

    Beth

    Everyone
    To everyone,

    Again, I have learned a wealth of information on this wonderful site. I have no idea what my
    oncologist has planned for me on my May 9 visit. I have had so many scans, ct, and XRays for my knee and hips. I have been in remission since Jan 2011. After reading some of the posts, I now wonder if blood tests are enough?

    Love Maggie DX 09/09 sub type extranodal marginal zone b cell NHL remission Jan 2011
  • miss maggie
    miss maggie Member Posts: 929
    #11
    dixiegirl said:

    Blood
    I too am like you Hilde, my bloodwork all along has been good. He's always been happy with that. I guess I have figured out how to confirm it's back. Mine seems to be nightsweats that is the major key.

    Take care, everyone,

    Beth

    Everyone
    To everyone,

    Again, I have learned a wealth of information on this wonderful site. I have no idea what my
    oncologist has planned for me on my May 9 visit. I have had so many scans, ct, and XRays for my knee and hips. I have been in remission since Jan 2011. After reading some of the posts, I now wonder if blood tests are enough?

    Love Maggie DX 09/09 sub type extranodal marginal zone b cell NHL remission Jan 2011
  • Michele23
    Michele23 Member Posts: 168
    #12
    miss maggie said:

    Everyone
    To everyone,

    Again, I have learned a wealth of information on this wonderful site. I have no idea what my
    oncologist has planned for me on my May 9 visit. I have had so many scans, ct, and XRays for my knee and hips. I have been in remission since Jan 2011. After reading some of the posts, I now wonder if blood tests are enough?

    Love Maggie DX 09/09 sub type extranodal marginal zone b cell NHL remission Jan 2011

    Blood test versusPet/Ct
    Hi Maggie,My bloodwork rarely ever shows high HDL/white count etc.Guess I'm the odd ball out.Have a reaction to contrast so I get pre-meds.Hopefully April 16th will be it for awhile for me.Hugs,Michele
  • yesyes2
    yesyes2 Member Posts: 591
    #13
    miss maggie said:

    Everyone
    To everyone,

    Again, I have learned a wealth of information on this wonderful site. I have no idea what my
    oncologist has planned for me on my May 9 visit. I have had so many scans, ct, and XRays for my knee and hips. I have been in remission since Jan 2011. After reading some of the posts, I now wonder if blood tests are enough?

    Love Maggie DX 09/09 sub type extranodal marginal zone b cell NHL remission Jan 2011

    Blood Work
    Hi,

    Although we do blood work every time I see my Oncologist it has stayed normal, even during my recurrance. As far as I know the only blood test for detection is the LDH, and that isn't always elevated when you have lymphoma. Mine was elevated with the first diagnosis. My Oncs feel the CBC is very important. I was told the only way to determine if you are in remission is either a CT or a PET. Like everyone else here I have had way too much radiation.

    Leslie
  • C_Reich
    C_Reich Member Posts: 10
    #14
    I received all of my
    I received all of my staging/baseline tests in the same week. I actually received a few CT scans. I had a pelvic/chest CT and the CT/PET the next day. But they are commonly combined technology and im not even sure why i received both.
  • CountryGal7557
    CountryGal7557 Member Posts: 164 Member
    #15
    yesyes2 said:

    Blood Work
    Hi,

    Although we do blood work every time I see my Oncologist it has stayed normal, even during my recurrance. As far as I know the only blood test for detection is the LDH, and that isn't always elevated when you have lymphoma. Mine was elevated with the first diagnosis. My Oncs feel the CBC is very important. I was told the only way to determine if you are in remission is either a CT or a PET. Like everyone else here I have had way too much radiation.

    Leslie

    Blood Work alone or more?
    that is a good question. I'll definitely ask my Oncologist what he's looking for in the lab work that will detect new activity. My apt is 4/15 and will let you know what I find out! Take Care! Janelle =)

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