PET scan question

idlehunters
idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I just had my first PET done friday and i am anxiously awaiting results. I called my doc this morning but no results yet. The scan place just called me & wanted to know if i had had any facial implants in the past.... WHAT???????? No... i never had and i don't understand why they would ask that. After I hung up and thought about it for a while it hit me that I had Botox & Juviderm injections in my face in March. Does anyone know..... would this show up funky on a pet scan?????? I called the scan place back and told them and they seemed very interested about where and when injections had been done. I dunno..... i thought i would run right to you guys to see if this had happened to anyone. thank you

Jennie

Comments

  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #2
    Injections.......
    My guess is that the injections may be lighting up on the scan and they are checking to assure that it is just the injections ..nothing to worry about I wouldn't think...
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #3
    Hmm..
    I'm not sure if those injects will show up or not. I had a PET last week and the injection sites of my sandostatin (buttocks) showed up. They always show up on my CT's, too. So, I guess it's possible. At least they'll know what they're seeing.

    Good Luck,

    Kimby
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375 Member
    #4
    PET scans
    Jennie... calm down, take that deep breath you keep missing. PET scans are extremely sensitive, and sensitive to a lot of things. The most common (besides the metabolic activity which we are looking for) is infection/scarring tissue. These are not xrays.... they are taking scans on the "molecular level". Do you realize just how sensitive that is to be able to pick up activity at that level? Infection will cause the technicians to question an area. Do a Google search on Botox and if you look at the descriptions of it, you will realize that when you get Botox injections, you are injecting bacteria into your skin... then do a Google search on Juviderm and you are injecting an acid into your skin. So is it any surprise that this area is possibly lighting up on the PET scan?? You only had these injections 2 months ago... I have no idea how long Botox stays in your system but Juviderm will last up to at least a year. And if you have been doing these injections regularly, then chances are it will be in your system permanently, at least there will be scarring from it.

    I don't doubt for a second the technicians were interested in where and when the injections had been done. I wouldn't be surprised if this one image dept. has not seen this before... how many cancer patients continue with botox/juviderm injections?

    For future PET scans, when you fill out the questionaire about what surgeries you have had in your life, any broken bones, etc... make sure you make note that you have had Botox and Juviderm and where on the face you have had them so that they aren't taken by surprise.

    Cheryl
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #5
    CherylHutch said:

    PET scans
    Jennie... calm down, take that deep breath you keep missing. PET scans are extremely sensitive, and sensitive to a lot of things. The most common (besides the metabolic activity which we are looking for) is infection/scarring tissue. These are not xrays.... they are taking scans on the "molecular level". Do you realize just how sensitive that is to be able to pick up activity at that level? Infection will cause the technicians to question an area. Do a Google search on Botox and if you look at the descriptions of it, you will realize that when you get Botox injections, you are injecting bacteria into your skin... then do a Google search on Juviderm and you are injecting an acid into your skin. So is it any surprise that this area is possibly lighting up on the PET scan?? You only had these injections 2 months ago... I have no idea how long Botox stays in your system but Juviderm will last up to at least a year. And if you have been doing these injections regularly, then chances are it will be in your system permanently, at least there will be scarring from it.

    I don't doubt for a second the technicians were interested in where and when the injections had been done. I wouldn't be surprised if this one image dept. has not seen this before... how many cancer patients continue with botox/juviderm injections?

    For future PET scans, when you fill out the questionaire about what surgeries you have had in your life, any broken bones, etc... make sure you make note that you have had Botox and Juviderm and where on the face you have had them so that they aren't taken by surprise.

    Cheryl

    Thank You
    Hey everybody..... thank you for speedy replies. Cheryl... how do you know all that info??? you are so smart! i guess the rad. will explain the botox effects to me when i see him friday. i got these injections b4 i was dx. they dont seem so important any more. thanks again

    cheryl....can i get your email? i am webcrows2@aol.com

    jennie

Discussion Boards