questionable pet scan result

maryk6

This is the 3rd post I have made to this site and have had no replys yet. I am wondering if anyone else has this question? Can a Pet scan show "activity" from a fatty tumor in the liver. My Mom had a pet scan that showed activity on the liver, but was told several years ago that she had a fatty tumor on the liver. She has IDC. and has had a reccurance 8 mo. after initial diagnosis and treatment, L. BRTS. mastectomy with no chemo or radiation. We are awaiting a review of the PETSCAN by her Onco, but may take another 2 wks. This is a long time to wait and I am anxious as is my Mom. Thanks for any help

barbe1958

We are not doctors, which is why we are hesitant to post. I will say, that it isn't a fatty tumour, but fatty liver that the doctor was talking about. When the liver first gets areas of fat they look like tumours until identified. As you, yourself used the term fatty, that tells me they are fatty areas of the liver, not tumours.

Obviously, we can't "see" what showed up on the PET....best to wait for the pros.

lovinmomma

I am sorry. I don't know the answer. I know that the PET scan can pick up things that are false negatives. Hope you get some answers fropm the docs!

maryk6

BARBE1958,

 Thanks for the reply. I know this is a technical question. I appreciate your input. I think we are in a position of wait and see. Too bad that Moms Dr. that found the "fatty tumor" has left the State and can't be used as a resource. I am afraid that we are in for a long journey. Again, thahk you for taking thtiem to reply. sincerely, Kay

rdrake0

Wow!  I have had the same thing happening to me!  My PET/CT was back in Feb. of this year. Then the Doc ordered a regular CT scan, then an MRI.  Each one of these came back saying 'lesion consistant with matastesis'.  The area is only about 1.6cm to about 3 cm, depending on the test.  The doc now wants to wait 2 months to see if it grows!  Since the prognosis is really bad for liver cancer of any type, I don't want to wait.  However, I will share with you what he said to me.  He and my breast radiologist both think it is what is called a hemangioma.  It appears sometimes on an infant's skin, or it can appear in an adult liver.  Sometimes it grows and sometimes it shrinks.  But it is NOT cancer!

My issue is, what if it is truely a matastesis?  Waiting could be really bad news.  And if it is in my liver, could it be elsewhere, too?  Two different onc docs said 'No' to chemo for me.  Is this the price to pay for that?

Sorry, I get kinda obsessed with all of this.  As if breast cancer was bad enough to deal with!!!  My poor hubby is so patient with me.  I'm really lucky that way!!

Let me know what your doc says.  Where do you live?

Update on 7/12/09: I have now had a liver biopsy and that lesion WAS breast cancer!  Additional note: a CT scan can miss cancer in fatty livers.  The fat can camouflage the lesion as mine did.  Doc said from now on I will have MRI's done - every 3 months for awhile.

eeanthony7

I don't blame you for not wanting to wait.  I finished treatment this past August for Stage IIIA breast cancer.  My markers have been going up and down (62 - 40) for several months and I still have pain in my radiation site.  I complained constantly to the oncologist and surgeon and they finally decided to check.  I just had a PET/CT scan that came back hot for liver and lymph node activity.  They initially said it was inflammation of the liver with no lesion but I saw the radiologist yesterday and he's referring to it as a "lesion".  I'm confused.  Anyway, the CT scan didn't show anything so now I have to go through the ultrasound and biopsy process.  I hope and pray it's not "lesion consistant with matastesis" and as well, I hope all turns out great for you (and everybody else dealing with this issue) and NO CANCER for us all!!! 

Take care and God's riches blessings to you.

rdrake0

Update on my liver issue:  I found a doc (I spent oodles of time online researching this and found him myself!) in Pittsburgh who knows just what to do with this lesion in my liver.  (It is in a very difficult spot to get to through the skin because it is inside the liver under my breastbone.)  He plans to go in laproscopically though a blood vessel with an RFA wand thingy.  Once he gets to that spot he will biopsy it, then burn it to death!  He is reputed to be one of the top liver surgeons in the country, so I feel very confident that I am in good hands.

Pray for me that it is NOT cancer!  It might not be!  But I am glad something is planned now.  Living with the 'wait and see' philosophy just wasn't working for me.

7/17/09 Update:  He found 11 or 12 other cancer lesions as well.  But instead of burning them, he cut two of them completely out and did a needle biopsy on several others.  It is cancer.  He is 95% sure it is breast cancer.  I just had my original bc slides sent out to him so a pathologist can view the two different cancer cells side by side to make a decision as to where the cells in the liver actually came from.  That will determine which chemo I get. 

Seems so strange to be stage I one minute and SMACK, I'm stage IV the next.  That changes everything.

Oops, sorry, I said most of this stuff above and forgot!

Kate2z80

rdrake0, good for you for being so assertive.  I had a small lesion show up when my breast MRI was done and it came back as unlikely for carcinoma on the CT.  My surgeon and onc both felt it was extremely unlikely that it was cancer, but that's not good enough for me.  I'm having a PET scan this week, which I really pushed for (doctor didn't fight me, but there is no doubt that no further testing would be done in the short term if I hadn't pushed for something (I actually wanted a liver biopsy).  I hope your surgery went well and would be interested to hear your results.

fairy49

rdrake0, I don't blame you one bit not wanting to "wait and see", I am praying for you, please keep us posted!

Hugs,

Lorraine ox