NECK SCAN BEFORE PET SCAN

luv4lacrosse
luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I finished treatment on October 20th, and will have a Neck CT I assume with contrast on December 15th. I am then scheduled for my first PET in February. Have most of you all had the same type of scan schedule? I understand waiting for the PET because of the Radiation Treatment to avoid any false positives and wont the Neck Scan reveal the same false positives?

If the neck is clear in december, statistically are the odds in my favor that it did not spread below my collar bone?

Thanks

Mike

Comments

  • rush1958
    rush1958 Member Posts: 223 Member
    #2
    CT Scan
    Mike,

    I finished treatment at the end of June. I had a CT scan about 2 - 3 months out of the neck area. I was told that it was for base line comparisons. PET scans can be a little fickle early out of treatment.

    I had my first PET scan of the neck area last Tuesday. Additionally, they performed a CT chest scan as well. I get the results this Monday.

    I can't tell you the precise statistical odds, but I think they're in your favor. You're going to be OK. Hang tough!

    Rush
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #3
    Scans
    It's my understanding that the CT won't show the same false positive as the PET (if the PET does). The CT captures an image of any mass, so you have to have a growth or something. The PET does not show a thing, it shows sugar being used, an activity. So, a benign growth would show on the CT, not PET. A false positive would show PET activity, but no CT mass. Not to make you worry, but a true positive could also show PET activity, but no mass - sometimes the activity can be increased even when you don't have cancerous cells big enough to show up on a CT yet. My first scans (CT and PET) three months out showed an enlarged lymph node (which had been even larger before treatment) on the CT, but the PET score was only a two (much lower than before treatment), so my docs took a "wait and watch" approach, since the CT threw up a red flag, but the PET did not. Here'e hoping for an uninteresting CT scan on the fifteenth for you.
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #4
    CT's
    Hey Mike,
    My experience with CT's has been less than positive (pun intended). Prior to being diagnosed I went through a whole process of elimination that lasted 9 months and included approximately 5 different CT's of the head and neck. None revealed anything abnormal. A wise neuroligist finally ordered an MRI which showed the large tumor wrapped around my carotid as well as the ones present in both my lymph nodes. An MRI done when my first CT was done (months prior) could have revealed the tumor earlier and might have changed everything including the mets to my spine and sternum. So, I have very little faith in the CT scans and only receive them now to help guide the radiation I am receiving. If it were me, I would talk to my doc about getting an MRI instead of a CT scan. Probably some insurance reason why that would be difficult I'm sure but asking is pre-appproved.
    Hang in there Mike. Try not to go much further than today. It's going to be ok. You've done well and been strong. It will be great to read about your NED soon. All my best,


    Bob
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    CT & PET
    Hi Mike

    I did my first CT about 3 months before my first PET so sounds about right to me. The CT was for my Chemo doc and to make sure everything that was in the neck was gone. Ths PET was for my oncal doc to male sure everything in the body was gone
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #6
    Hondo said:

    CT & PET
    Hi Mike

    I did my first CT about 3 months before my first PET so sounds about right to me. The CT was for my Chemo doc and to make sure everything that was in the neck was gone. Ths PET was for my oncal doc to male sure everything in the body was gone

    CT VS PET
    Hondo, my Doc seems to be on the same page as yours. He will be looking to see if anything odd shows up since my surgery. I do know the very first CT Scan of my neck did show the Tumors, but what my Surgeon actually found VS what showed on the CT were 2 different things. There we allot more tumors that he saw and removed during surery thn what showed up on the CT.

    I had a very good physical exam and scope 2 weeks ago, so I have that going for me.

    My wife told me that on my initial PET Scan a very small spot lit up on my Liver, but that the Doc and the Radiologist were not concerned with it. Have you had any experience with a "spot" on a scan that was not anything to be concerned with

    BEST!!

    Mike
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #7
    rush1958 said:

    CT Scan
    Mike,

    I finished treatment at the end of June. I had a CT scan about 2 - 3 months out of the neck area. I was told that it was for base line comparisons. PET scans can be a little fickle early out of treatment.

    I had my first PET scan of the neck area last Tuesday. Additionally, they performed a CT chest scan as well. I get the results this Monday.

    I can't tell you the precise statistical odds, but I think they're in your favor. You're going to be OK. Hang tough!

    Rush

    CT OF NECK
    That's kind of what I think it is too. Compare with the initial one and I guess see if anything else has grown in the same area. I did have a clean physical exam and scope of the area 2 weeks ago, and all was fine there.

    My wife just recently told me that on my initial PET Scan to see if it had spread anywhere, there was a tiny spot on my liver that showed up, but that my Doc and the Radiologist were not concerned at that time. Of course I am wondering now that I know this. I will bring this up to my Chemo Doc. tomorrow when I see him.

    BEST!!

    Mike
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #8
    Pam M said:

    Scans
    It's my understanding that the CT won't show the same false positive as the PET (if the PET does). The CT captures an image of any mass, so you have to have a growth or something. The PET does not show a thing, it shows sugar being used, an activity. So, a benign growth would show on the CT, not PET. A false positive would show PET activity, but no CT mass. Not to make you worry, but a true positive could also show PET activity, but no mass - sometimes the activity can be increased even when you don't have cancerous cells big enough to show up on a CT yet. My first scans (CT and PET) three months out showed an enlarged lymph node (which had been even larger before treatment) on the CT, but the PET score was only a two (much lower than before treatment), so my docs took a "wait and watch" approach, since the CT threw up a red flag, but the PET did not. Here'e hoping for an uninteresting CT scan on the fifteenth for you.

    CT PET
    Pam, thanks for the reply. I had a clean physical exam and scope 2 weeks ago, so I hope this CT shows nothing to be concerned about. You mentioned an enlarged Lymph Node showing up on your first scan and the docs. taking a wait and see approach. My wife told me that on my initial PET that a small spot showed up on my liver but that the Doc. and the Radiaologist were not concerned at that time. That sems odd to me. Sounds just like the wait and see your docs are taking.

    BEST!!

    Mike
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #9
    adventurebob said:

    CT's
    Hey Mike,
    My experience with CT's has been less than positive (pun intended). Prior to being diagnosed I went through a whole process of elimination that lasted 9 months and included approximately 5 different CT's of the head and neck. None revealed anything abnormal. A wise neuroligist finally ordered an MRI which showed the large tumor wrapped around my carotid as well as the ones present in both my lymph nodes. An MRI done when my first CT was done (months prior) could have revealed the tumor earlier and might have changed everything including the mets to my spine and sternum. So, I have very little faith in the CT scans and only receive them now to help guide the radiation I am receiving. If it were me, I would talk to my doc about getting an MRI instead of a CT scan. Probably some insurance reason why that would be difficult I'm sure but asking is pre-appproved.
    Hang in there Mike. Try not to go much further than today. It's going to be ok. You've done well and been strong. It will be great to read about your NED soon. All my best,


    Bob

    MRI QUESTION
    I will definitely mention that to my Doc. when I see him. I have an appt. with my Chemo Doc tomorrow and may also bring that up with him..

    Thanks

    MIKE

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