PET = possible 'Brown Fat'?

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carollyn
carollyn Member Posts: 70
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Looking for help in deciphering my PET report from radiology.  I don't see my onc until the 20th, so I'm hopeing someone out here has had this in thier report.  " There are symmetric foci of increased metabolic activity located in the supraclavicular regions, possibly related to brown fat".

Any clue to what increased activity or brown fat could possibly mean?  Also on prvious week showed degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, and blood work showed high potassium (I am not on any meds at all).

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited June 2011

    Just a wild guess... if you've had reconstruction, could it possibly be another term for fat necrosis, which is when little areas of fat die?  They feel like little lumps in there.  Is that why you had PETScan?  Deanna

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  • carollyn
    carollyn Member Posts: 70
    edited June 2011

    Had recon in sep 08 and decon apr 1.  Haven't had any issues until 3-4 ago.  I feel like a bobble head most of the time, pain in left shoulder area as well as upper humorous left arm.  Have just had an overall feeling of poop, and a golfball size lump in left area between armpit and where left breast used to be.

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited June 2011

    This doesn't sound alarming. Brown fat is metabolically active fat (as opposed to white fat).  Take a look at this wikipedia article on Brown Fat:

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_adipose_tissue 

    Look particularly at the section titled "Presence in Adults" which says that PET scans often see the vestiges of brown fat in the upper chest & neck.  That the findings on your report are symetrical further suggests that the findings are normal.

    This sounds descriptive, but not troubling.  Hope that helps as you wait for your appointment and a real interpretation of your test results. :-)

    LisaAlissa 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    Hi Carollyn, have heard and read that brown fat is good fat, so am no worried about my tummy Smile  If you can pintch your stomach, it's brown fat as opposed to the bad white fat which wraps around the internal organs and strangles them.

    Brown Fat Cells May One Day Help Combat Obesity

    Published: June 5, 2011 12:11 PM
    from
     -- Mary Elizabeth Dallas

    Quick ReadScientists report that they grew 'good' fat cells that can burn calories in lab study

    The human body has two kinds of fat: the "bad" white kind that stores calories and the "good" brown kind that burns them. Now, researchers say that it is actually possible to make more brown fat to help people lose weight.

    "We are now even more optimistic that brown fat could be used for treating obesity and diabetes," study lead author Dr. Aaron Cypess, assistant professor at Harvard Medical...

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