PET vs. Ct Scan

Often they can see what they want with a CT scan with or without contrast. The PET/CT   Positron emission tomography (PET) uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radiotracers, a special camera, and a computer to help evaluate your organ and tissue functions. By identifying body changes at the cellular level, PET may detect the early onset of disease before it is evident on other imaging tests.

One of the main reasons is cost. A CT scan might be $800 where the PET/CT may be 10 times that. Now insurances have agreed to fees which is much less that what they charge. Mine was $12,000 and Insurances agreed to $8,000. Many are less depending on the facility.  I had a PET before my surgery but never had one after. Most that have radiation and Chemo will have one also after treatment so check they killed it all. I was only surgery and there was no doubt they got it all.  Hope this helps.

Bill

My husband had PET/CT every 3-4 months during his battle.  Yes the cost is prohibitive but Medicare always approved them.  They were done at the same time.  First the PET Scan was done where they injected the medication and he had to wait an hour before the PET scan could be done and then the CT with contrast was done.  Even after surgery when the radiation and chemo didn't touch the tumor, he still had a PET/CT scan every 3-4 months until he went declined all further treatment.  Now I understand that Medicare doesn't approve a PET scan but once or twice due to the cost.  My husband's battle started 6 years this month and he lost his battle one year ago tomorrow and he stopped all further treatment because of the spread of the cancer and further surgery was ruled out 2 1/2 years into his battle and he was tired of the radiation (75 rounds all together in basically the same spot) and the chemo.

Just remember everyone responds differently to treatment and second and sometimes third opinions are the way to go.  You have to have confidence in your doctors.  We had great doctors but our ENT referred us to a head and neck specialist because he said that was what my husband needed (wish that had done that before the first go round of radiation and chemo) and wish we had gotten a second opinion but my husband believed in the doctors and that's what counted.  His cancer started in his laryx and was contained there.  The he was diagnosed with a second primary and that was what wouldn't respond to treatment and spread.  His cancer was squamous.

Wishing you peace and comfort

We had a PET/CT at intial diagnosis  and at 3 months after treatment finished. Since the post treatment results were NED, the follow up now is with CT only for head, neck, and chest. My husband's tumor was nasopharyngeal Stage 4.

Barbara

I think with a PET scan a CT is done in conjunction with the PET, so it's my impression that it's a better scan. But don't quote me on that. 

My hubby had a PET before treatment, and we had to fight with the insurance company to get it approved so it could be done the next day to confirm his diagnosis as recommended by his ENT. They require prior approval, although they don't tell you that upfront. Just wondering if most people have to get prior authorization for their scans, and who is supposed to do that anyway - your provider or you?

Barbaraek said:

Prior approval

Yep, we always have to get prior approval. The doctor's office (radiologist) submits it. We get so much paperwork it isn't even funny...separate approvals for head, neck, and chest = 3x the paperwork.

Barbara

I guess we are lucky in that respect. We don't get any paperwork at all, but I don't like surprises either. I guess in the future any time the doc says "scan" I'll have to be sure their secretaries do their jobs. Oh well...at least we HAVE insurance! 

I used to wonder why the standards for follow up are now - no surveillance scans without symptoms. At least that is what our clinic follows. Must be the insurance companies trying to cut costs again. But it sounds like everyone here is still getting scans every 3 months or so. We don't. It's something I try not to think about, but if what they say is true - that most patients find their own recurrences, then I can't worry about it. It's all out of my hands, anyway.

Gotta just enjoy life! 

Had my 2nd NED a few days ago. It was quite a tense experience.

Similarly, had the same question. My oncologist mentioned the next scan is in 3 months for another PET. Would that be too often?