CT showed 4mm nodule

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camiam
camiam Member Posts: 75
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
I had a bone scan this week for rib pain (negative!) and my routine chest CT scan, which my onc said looks good, except there was one 4mm nodule on my liver, and he wants another CT next week to get a closer look. He said he's not particularly worried, just being cautious, and he feels like it's benign. Of course, I get to spend Christmas weekend with this over my head. Anyone had something similar that didn't turn out to be metastases? Or that did? CAN a CT scan actually tell whether a nodule is benign or malignant? 
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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2011

    I had/have cysts on my liver at initial DX. They scanned them several times, and concluded each time that they are simply benign cysts. 

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited December 2011

    I had a 4mm nodule on my auxilla that turned out to be nothing at all.  Another poster, BlairK, his wife has DCIS and a nodule on the liver on scanning.  I am quite sure hers is B9 and you might want to check with him how they determined that.  Hopefully you have no problems. 

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  • camiam
    camiam Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2011

    Thanks for the replies. I'm hoping for something to go on while I wait very anxiously for next week.

    Also thanks for pointing me to that poster- I'm reading now. I'd tried doing a few searches, but yielded nothing helpful (I'm ineffective like that when it comes to search terms, apparently!).

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited December 2011

    When I had my CT scan following diagnosis, it showed spots on my kidney, ovaries and brain which were determined as benign and no further testing was needed.



    So I think the CT can usually distinguish between benign and malignant. Hopefully, your doc is just being cautious.



    I see you are a 10 year survivor, had a very early stage cancer and aggressive treatment (plus two babies :-) !). Hopefully, this all means the odds are in favour of this nodule being innocuous. Try to hold on to those thoughts.



    Saying a prayer for you.

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  • Naniam
    Naniam Member Posts: 1,766
    edited December 2011

    I have benign areas in my liver and they decided they were benign - they were hemangiomas.

    Wishing you the best. 

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  • nancyh
    nancyh Member Posts: 2,644
    edited December 2011

    I think they can tell from the CT if it looks suspicious based on the shape (I think).  If they do a PET/CT they can see if there is hypermetabolic activity, which would show cancer versus not.  Might be worth asking just because it does give a lot more information than a CT (though insurance doesn't always want to pay for it).

    Best of luck, hope it is nothing!! 

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