Worried about mets...options for further scans/testing?

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ella23
ella23 Member Posts: 36
edited July 2016 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I recently had an abdominal ultrasound which showed two masses in my liver. The radiologist suggested an MRI, to which I agreed...but now I've realized that I can't have an MRI until after exchange (because of the metal in my TEs), and that won't be for a while. I'm not sure I could survive the wait.

I'd like to have a PET scan done to check my liver as well as my entire system and was wondering if you all thought it would be wise for me to advocate for one. Would a PET scan give me more info than a CT scan? If I got a PET scan, would I eventually have to get either a CT and/or an MRI too? My goals are 1) get some answers as quickly as possible, and 2) minimize the number of scans/tests I have to undergo.

Thanks for your input,

-Ella.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2016

    A ptscan would show the masses & light up or not based on the metabolic activity. The liver will always light up some, but my cancer showed lit at a 13 on their scale compared to normal being around 2. Some other things can make it light up as well , but since you know the masses are through, I would definitely advocate for the ptscan. Then you can get it done quicker as well without waiting for the exchang

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  • ella23
    ella23 Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2016

    thank you nbnotes! My docs (not including MO--I don't see her for a couple weeks) want to get a "triple phase dedicated liver CT scan" right now. It sounds like they want to start with this....

    Trying to stay calm, but it's tough....

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2016

    Oy, ella!

    Sorry to read about your situation. Hope the "triple phase dedicated liver CT scan" doesn't find mets.... I guess you can always get a PET scan later.

    ((Hugs)) I hope you don't have to wait too long for your scan.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited July 2016

    Ella - I would ask for a PET/CT so you have the combination of both types of imaging. Here is a link with info. All of my PETs have been this type.

    http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=pet


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  • ella23
    ella23 Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2016

    Thanks for the comments Elaine and SpecialK!

    I will ask my PCP about a PET/CT scan, but my GI really wants this particular type of CT scan done (I don't quite understand why). I wonder if a PET/CT will show just as much detail?


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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited July 2016

    ella - I would ask your MO what he/she thinks about using PET/CT at this point - it is an option while having your expanders in and may provide some useful info. What is should show is whether or not these masses are FDG avid - whether they take up the glucose tracer - and that will provide potential info about what the masses are.

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  • ella23
    ella23 Member Posts: 36
    edited July 2016

    Special K: I have been playing phone tag with my doc for about a week now trying to get auth for a PET/CT. Long story short, she agrees we should probably do a PET/CT but I'm already scheduled for my CT today, in a few hours. I was trying to decide if it's worth cancelling today's appt to see if insurance will cover the PET/CT and called the imaging center to see if there is any benefit (re: radiation exposure, cost, etc.) in doing them together. The woman I spoke with said there is no less exposure as the CT scans would be done separate from the PET scans. Does this sound right?

    I don't want to cancel today's appt if I don't have to...the wait has been really hard. Also, I've already drank one of those bottles of disgusting radioactive fluid (or whatever it is) and I hate to have done it for nothing. Ha.


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  • leftduetostupidmods
    leftduetostupidmods Member Posts: 620
    edited July 2016

    That is the main problem - insurance, due to the high cost of the PET scan. I remember 3 years ago when I had a weird Xray, my onc tried to do a PET scan. Insurance answered "she can't have a PET scan because she didn't have a CT scan showing anything weird" (well not these exact words but you get the picture). Then he went for the CT scan so he can do the PET afterwards. Insurance answered "she can't have CT because she didn't have a MRI".

    So I ended up having a MRI and a CT scan on top of the PET scan just so the insurance would approve the PET scan. Yea. They saved a lot of money on that one.

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