SUV uptake in PET scans

[Sherryg683]

Is anyone familiar with SUV uptake in PET scans. I was worried because my last PET showed a spot in my scar area that had an SUV intake of 2.4, up from 1.4. My oncologist told me it was nothing, it was mild uptake of the glucose due to the surgery site (which was 2 years ago). I found an article about SUV intake and it said that PETs can pick up all sorts of things and intake of under 2.5 is usually nothing and has around a 25 percent chance of being malignant. Since 2.4 is so close to this 2.5, I am worried. I am not due for scans till July. I have always had pain and inflamation in the scar tissue, so hopefully it's this. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE..I was looking over my ORIGINAL pathology report that showed the 2 lung mets that we assumed were cancerous (they were too small to biopsy). The SUV intake on these were 1.4 and 0.8. According to this article, this intake is too low to be immediately considered cancer and has a 75 percent chance it was something like a cold or lung infection!! Why didn't my Oncologist tell me this. I would much rather think I could be Stage III. My Oncologist had told me that his treatment of me would have been the same, but mentally it would be easier. I see him tomorrow and will bring a copy of the article. I'm feeling better about the lung thing but more uncomfortable about a reoccurance in my scar area. ..sherryg683

[lkc Gumby]

Hi Sherri,
I have always thought that you were a stage IIIer.
I was dxed May 05, and am still on Herceptin ( nor progression ) but my onc down here feels it is wise ( I have no cardiac problems )
I think you rec'd alot of benefit from your tx too.
Good luck with your visit. Hopefully it will simply be soem inflammation at the scar site.

[Sherryg683]

Well my Oncologists reply to my lung spots having such a low SUV was "they were too small to take up to much glucose"....oh well. He then said that he is of the belief that the spots actually were a false positive, he thought we would have seen some sort of reoccurance by now, that and they disapeared after 3 weeks treatment. I'm going to try and start believing that. It's just hard once you are programed to think the worse. He also told me that the 2.4 was still way beyond the uptake which usually determines malignancy. He said malignant uptake is usually in the 7.0 range. I guess I will just continue on with my Herceptin indefinately and pray, pray , pray..sherryg683

[Ceesun]

Sherry-did you ever have a lung biopsy-my spots showed barely any uptake on Pet but were cancerous....just wondering, best wishes. Ceesun

[Sherryg683]

No, I didn't have a biopsy. I was told they were just too small to needle biopsy. At the time I was so eager to get started on chemo, I just told my doctor to assume they were and treat me as agressively as possible. It's just later down the line that I would like to have know for sure. He said it wouldn't have changed his treatment for me, except now I qualify for life long Herceptin without any problem. ..sherryg683

[Brenda_D]

SUV on my known tumor was 14.7 and on the positive node was 6.8 or somewhere around there.