Bone Scan May Reflect Mets?

Nancy10102006

What does this mean???

I had a bone scan and got the results yesterday.  The scan indicates that "there is a new area of focal increased uptake in the region of the right hip posteriorly, which may reflect a new site of bony metastatic disease."  My doctor has ordered an MRI of the right femor which I have scheduled on Thursday.

My question:  Does this statement mean that I most likely do have a site of METS - or can this be something else and once I have the MRI they will not find anything?  Has anyone else had a statement on a bone scan similar to this only to find no sign of mets in a follow-up MRI?

Just for explanation sake - I had the bone scan and an MRI of the left leg due to pain.  It turns out that is being caused by a slipped disc.  The new spot on the right was a total surprise (not a good one).  I have not had pain on the right leg/hip.

Thanks for any and all help. 

ElaineD

It's very poor grammar on the part of the person writing the report. There's no way of working out if it means a new site of bony mets, or if there are  bony mets which are a new development. Think you need clarification on that point, rather than speculation as to what it could mean, as there are two very diifferent possibilities here.

Nancy10102006

Sorry - I might be able to explain that.  I have had 4 or 5 bone scans (can't remember which).  I had a car accident prior to being diagnosed; therefore there are always sites which they include in the report.  But all the other sites are from the old injuries.  That is why this says "new site."  Though no other sites have ever been mets....does that make sense?

ElaineD

It does Nancy-but it still is open to several interpretations-I think you need to make a phone call for some clarification. Hope it's not mets-but if it is, there are many treatments which can be very effective. But, let's hope that's not what it means!

Nancy10102006

Thank you Elaine.  I am just trying not to worry too much but will be getting the MRI on Thursday so I guess that will help me figure out what the results are referring to.  Just wondered if any one else had had a similar notation on a bone scan.  Thank you for your reply!

chicago-37

Nancy,

  I hope your MRI came back clear.  Have you received the results yet? 

coolmom89

Nancy, I had a CT scan, a PET Scan and there were spots on my bones...none that reflected on the PETscan...my doc says it could have been nothing, or met. breast cancer...it was a 50/50 - they still could not tell until they did a bone biopsy of the spine..I think it could be something else..I hope that your report will come back GREAT...stay strong and keep faith!