MRI, PET/CT Results and question

[Yorkiegirl]

I just picked up copies of my scan reports.

I had to laugh at the Brain MRI report, it stated "The ventricles and sulci are unremarkable in size for a person this age. Well heck I am only 52, now that's not old. LOL So my brain MRI is just fine.

OK on the PET/CT Scan, there is an area I have question about.

It states I have 2 small area's of hypermetabolic foci in teh right anterior chest wall at the site of prior mastectomy. i have one lesion with an SUV of 4.3 and another with an SUV of 3.5.

OK my question is this, in the Impression area it say's:

"Two small hypermetabolic nodular densities are identified in the right anterior chest wall adjacent to postsurgical changes. These were not present on the prior study of 07/05/07. Differential considerations include local recurrences of breast cancer versus additional sites of fat necrosis."

So does this mean that I have local re-occurance???

My Onc has yet to say anything to me about this report.
My next appointment is with him in August.
Should I be concerned??

Can anyone help with an explanation of this?

[Patb]

Its sounds to me as they are covering all bases just
in case. Its probably nothing but I would call onocolgist
and ask what should be done such as further testing, etc.This just happened to me with a CT scan and one nodule in the lung and they said watch and have another in six months. I immediately checked with other Drs. and they said same thing so if there's nothing to be done, I will put it in the back of my mind, enjoy life and check it later. Congratulations on three years. I just passed two years!!
patb

[Joan M]

Hi Vicki,

Have you had other sites of fat necrosis that have lit up on a PET study ("...additional sites of fat necrosis"). If you've had them before it could very well mean that you have more.

Whether or not you've had others, perhaps your onc can order a CT scan of the chest which would get a better look at the two spots. How small is "small." The PET/CT report will tell you exactly how big they are. If they lit up, or otherwise showed hyperactivity, they would probably be at least 7 mm. If they're closer to 1 cm, a CT with contrast would get a good look at them and could help make a determination.

Ask your onc what he thinks you should do to follow-up. I wouldn't wait until August to speak with him, not because it's a panic but because there's something that's questionable.

Many oncs take a wait-and-see approach, but others are move proactive. But it's really what you feel comfortable with.

Best, Joan

[Yorkiegirl]

Joan I have not any area's of a fat necrosis that have lit up. Thease area's were not there last year.
This was a combo PET/with CT Scan that was done. It didn't say how big they were only the amount of uptake in each area, one being 4.3 and the other 3.5

[chrisy]

I think you do not know what this report means! You need more information. So 1. Try not to panic, and 2. get on the horn with your oncologist and get his/her impression. There is absolutely no reason to wait until August. There are many reasons you may not have heard from your oncologist yet (they have not seen the report, needed more information, etc.), but I think that is your next step.

[Joan M]

Vicki,

I agree with Chrisy that your oncologist may have not seen the report so you should probably follow up. Also, the report should say how big the nodules are, and your oncologist should find that out.

Joan