early pet scan? scary

robinleigh
robinleigh Member Posts: 297
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Because my husband is having an early check-up with his ent surgeon for a chylothorax complication, they are going ahead with his first pet scan. He'll just be 2 months out of radiation/chemo treatment. I seem to recall some discussion here that early scans had shown some spots "light up" that were residual from radiation and had caused unnecessary worry until the next 3 month check-up. Am I dreaming this discussion up or does anyone have experience with this. I just want to be as prepared as I can...
Thanks much, Robinleigh

Comments

  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    #2
    PET/CT
    Hi Robinleigh,

    Yes it's true that PET/CT scans may show a 'false positive'. It seems to happen more often for head and neck cancers and especially soon after treatment ends.

    I don't believe there is a definitive time frame for when the first PET/CT should occur. I had my first PET/CT 6 months post treatment. A second ENT I visited told me he normally does the first PET/CT after 3 months.

    It has been posited on this forum the initial PET/CT is used as a baseline for subsequent scans. I believe it is also used to help determine if the cancer has spread to elsewhere in the body.

    My 6 month PET/CT lit up where the original cancer was. A subsequent MRI was clean. Another PET/CT 3 months later also lit up in the same place, though this time the 'light' was not as bright, meaning it had become smaller. The current diagnosis is inflammation. There are a few others on this board, Hondo in particular, who regularly light up their PET/CT's.

    My advice if the PET/CT shows some hot spots would be to ask for an MRI for confirmation. Cheers

    Jimbo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Early Scans
    Some do light up from residual like Jimbo says, and it's not than uncommon...many ENT's will use it as a baseline.

    I was lucky in that my ENT also doesn't like to do them less than six months either for that same reason. My chemo MD actually ordered the first at about three months. Mine was clean and all have been post treatment...(hoping it stays that way).

    I have my second annual post PET in a few months.

    Hoping yours will be clean as well, but if it's not, more than likely it'll be just residual and serve as that baseline PET.

    Best,
    John
  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408
    #4
    Skiffin16 said:

    Early Scans
    Some do light up from residual like Jimbo says, and it's not than uncommon...many ENT's will use it as a baseline.

    I was lucky in that my ENT also doesn't like to do them less than six months either for that same reason. My chemo MD actually ordered the first at about three months. Mine was clean and all have been post treatment...(hoping it stays that way).

    I have my second annual post PET in a few months.

    Hoping yours will be clean as well, but if it's not, more than likely it'll be just residual and serve as that baseline PET.

    Best,
    John

    Hummmmm......Interesting.
    I'm "suppose" to have my 3rd PET Scan next Monday (D-Day...2nd year anniversary of completion of treatment). Then have the results by the next week, and hopefully not have to see my treatment team but on a yearly basis. It's odd how they schedule some things, but our treatment protocols all seem to mirror each other. All I know is that I'm feeling great, after traveling down such a miserable road to get to where I am at this place in time. Congratulations on making it to that magical two-year milepost. It is a major accomplishment.

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