Liver masses found on CT Scan

In my experience every time I read the latest scans summary, it's a day of new discovery. They point out different/new abdominal findings including the liver. For example: latest scan mentioned evidence of fatty liver disease and a hernia in my abdominal wall. I have no symptoms of either. Prior scan mentioned bone wear at spine, another mentioned a 20mm kidney stone. So the idea that you might have "low attenuation masses" in your liver is certainly similar. I would not worry about that until you have more info. There are 52 years of living on that body of yours and these scans will in a way, tell a story. Certainly can be eye opening though. I suspect your doctors will continue to be most concerned with your lung nets. Hoping you feel great!

Hello jlsgt,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I certainly am feeling like the more they look at something, the more they find or note.. I am a little upset that if they were there six months ago on previous scan why it wasn't even noted in that report. It was a different radiologist who wrote that report however. I am trying hard not to "google" this thing to death between now and my MRI but if you knew me you would know I am not having much success with that. It helps in a way to have someone who may have been through something similar to give me some insight etc... makes this less lonely process I guess. I do think my doctors will keep an eye on my lung nodules because I am a former smoker. I had the CT scan six months ago as part of a low dose CT lung cancer screening program which my doctor said I will do annually until I am about 85 years old if I make it that long. Obviously I'd rather not have any lung nodules at all but I am told they are fairly common and can be nothing more than a "footprint" left behind from a previous infection or inflammation process. She said we continue surveillance but treat it as that unless something changes with them. Thank you for your comments I sure do appreciate it! Wishing you good health!

I’m so sorry you are in this worrisome position. My 32 yr old son has nets. My recommendation would be a gallium 68 pet dotate scan. It will identify nets anywhere in the body. Our experience with ct scans did not show or pick up most of the neuroendocrine. Better to have the whole picture rather than guess.

Hello, thanks so much for your reply. I will research more about the scan you recommend as I have never heard of that one. I am due to be scheduled for an MRI of my abdomen with contrast dye soon. I am sorry to hear that your son has nets. I hope his prognosis and treatment plan is good though. May I ask where his tumor or tumors were located and what prompted the investigation of his condition? I have had no symptoms that I know of and these masses were seen on a ct scan I was having on my chest for a follow up on some small pulmonary nodules in my lungs. This report that I got yesterday says these liver masses were there six months ago on a prior ct scan as well but that report made no mention of them whatsoever. That really bothers me. 🙁

Last April he had a ct scan for stomach pain. Was then diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma in the stomach, with metastasis to nearby lymph nodes and a few lesions on his liver. A second biopsy performed 3 months later on the liver was diagnosed as neuroendocrine. This was also in the original stomach biopsy , but not reported.
As of last week and the gallium pet scan, he has many metastasis throughout his bones. He’s had various ct scans all along, but nets never showed up. I’ve heard that pet scan and particularly this one we had is the most accurate method to find the nets, and severity of disease. I hope this helps. All I know is you have to be proactive, ask and demand answers. Health care systems, even in Canada, are very limited in proactively.

Thank you for your reply and all the information. I'm so sorry that your son is having to go through all of this. 🙁 I did look up the gallium pet scan you suggested and it does say it an excellent test to find tumors. I am trying not to put the cart before the horse at this point in my case, but I will remember the test should there come a time when it looks like it may be warranted. My doctor kept telling me this was probably liver cysts in my case and not to worry but when I read words on the report that say "poorly defined low attenuation masses" I feel pretty worried. I guess I will find out more with the MRI and hope that will be soon. Thanks again, Wishing you and your son good health.

Thank you. Good luck with your scan. And remember - ask lots of questions. Make sure the diagnosis makes some sense to you. ❤️

@hercules
On Connect, we discuss the 68 Gallium Dotatate PET. The introductory post was written by Mayo Clinic NET specialists. I would encourage you to read the post. Here is the link to the discussion:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/68ga-dotatate-positron-emission-tomography-pet-now-at-mayo-clinic/
When will you be having your MRI? How are you feeling?

Thank you for the link, I will check it out. I haven't received the call yet for scheduling of the MRI. I was only told I would need this yesterday. I am hoping they will get it scheduled soon as I don't generally do well with "scanxiety" I will update when I find out more. Thank you, wishing you good health!