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Can anyone interpret my PET scan results?

Posted by angelglenn @angelglenn, Dec 5, 2022

Can anyone interpret

. Few prominent/enlarged lymph nodes are identified in the upper neck bilaterally associated with focal metabolic activity. Largest of these lymph nodes is identified on image 66 of series 4 measuring up to 2.1 cm and with maximum SUV of 4.3.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 6, 2022

Welcome, @angelglenn. it looks like you received your PET scan results before your appointment with your doctor to review it together. This can cause a lot of anxiety. Members here on this forum can help with the anxious feeling.

Deep breath and one step at a time. A PET scan is only one step in the diagnostic process. Your doctor is the person equipped to interpret these results along with your medical history and any other tests you've had done.

First – not everything that is hypermetabolic is cancer.
"A PET scan (positron emission tomography) works to identify areas of hypermetabolic activity anywhere in the body. A radioactive substance is given to the patient and this attaches to glucose, which is attracted to cells that are hypermetabolic. When the scan is done, these areas "light up." Often, but not always, cancer cells fall into this category of being hypermetabolic. In addition, not everything that is hypermetabolic is cancer." https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pet-scan/about/pac-20385078

When do you have an appointment with your doctor to discuss the results of the PET scan and to talk about the next step? Why was the PET scan ordered?

REPLY
angelglenn | @angelglenn | Dec 6, 2022

Thanks. It's my 23 yo daughter, who has been sick since this summer.
Night sweats,weight loss, numbness in arms and legs, leg weakness, having to use a cane for support.
Ruled out ms,went to er and her nurse suggested asking her pcp for pet scan.
She also has a rib that has broke three times with in correct healing. She had it plated 3 times and that didn't help either
We see the oncologist tomorrow.
My grandmother had Hogkins in tbe early 60s.
Only worried about unknown, not known.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 9, 2022
In reply to @angelglenn "Thanks. It's my 23 yo daughter, who has been sick since this summer. Night sweats,weight loss,..." + (show)
@angelglenn

Thanks. It's my 23 yo daughter, who has been sick since this summer.
Night sweats,weight loss, numbness in arms and legs, leg weakness, having to use a cane for support.
Ruled out ms,went to er and her nurse suggested asking her pcp for pet scan.
She also has a rib that has broke three times with in correct healing. She had it plated 3 times and that didn't help either
We see the oncologist tomorrow.
My grandmother had Hogkins in tbe early 60s.
Only worried about unknown, not known.

Jump to this post

@angelglenn, I can imagine you're worried sick about your daughter. Any news (if you wish to share) from the oncologist appointment?

REPLY
1 reply
angelglenn | @angelglenn | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@angelglenn, I can imagine you're worried sick about your daughter. Any news (if you wish to..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@angelglenn, I can imagine you're worried sick about your daughter. Any news (if you wish to share) from the oncologist appointment?

Jump to this post

Thanks. The doctor we went to was very very nice. He thinks she only has a 15 percent chance it's cancer. She might however have some issue with her plasma cells.
He did recommend a biopsy which they are doing this coming Thursday.
Thanks for asking

REPLY
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