Importance of PET scans?

Forums General Melanoma Community Importance of PET scans?

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    POW
    Participant

      My brother (Stage IV with brain mets) has had many CT scans and MRIs but never a PET scan. Nobody at the VA or at Moffitt ever suggested one. Is there any particular reason to use PET vs CT vs MRI?

      My brother (Stage IV with brain mets) has had many CT scans and MRIs but never a PET scan. Nobody at the VA or at Moffitt ever suggested one. Is there any particular reason to use PET vs CT vs MRI?

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    • Replies
        lhaley
        Participant

          PET scans are usually done if you are trying to find if/where melanoma is the body.  I had for the first 6 years of my stage 4 and when they found something they suspected they would do a CT.  Once my cancer became active they have switched me to Mri's and Ct's.

          In my case the PEt picked up the melanoma in my arms – twice.  A CT does not scan the arm. 

          Linda

          lhaley
          Participant

            PET scans are usually done if you are trying to find if/where melanoma is the body.  I had for the first 6 years of my stage 4 and when they found something they suspected they would do a CT.  Once my cancer became active they have switched me to Mri's and Ct's.

            In my case the PEt picked up the melanoma in my arms – twice.  A CT does not scan the arm. 

            Linda

            lhaley
            Participant

              PET scans are usually done if you are trying to find if/where melanoma is the body.  I had for the first 6 years of my stage 4 and when they found something they suspected they would do a CT.  Once my cancer became active they have switched me to Mri's and Ct's.

              In my case the PEt picked up the melanoma in my arms – twice.  A CT does not scan the arm. 

              Linda

              JC
              Participant

                Is it true MRIs are not great for parts that move (lungs)? 

                JC
                Participant

                  Is it true MRIs are not great for parts that move (lungs)? 

                    awillett1991
                    Participant
                      I don’t know about lungs but I’ve had many cardiac MRIs. PET returns many false positives which leads to more worry and more tests. That’s why many docs don’t like them. There are very good with detecting bone mets however and I have a history so I get them every 6 mos.
                      awillett1991
                      Participant
                        I don’t know about lungs but I’ve had many cardiac MRIs. PET returns many false positives which leads to more worry and more tests. That’s why many docs don’t like them. There are very good with detecting bone mets however and I have a history so I get them every 6 mos.
                        awillett1991
                        Participant
                          I don’t know about lungs but I’ve had many cardiac MRIs. PET returns many false positives which leads to more worry and more tests. That’s why many docs don’t like them. There are very good with detecting bone mets however and I have a history so I get them every 6 mos.
                        JC
                        Participant

                          Is it true MRIs are not great for parts that move (lungs)? 

                          Gene_S
                          Participant

                            The reason for the use of  CT scans over Pet scans is that the CT scan results can be measured. By measuring the size of the tumor they can determine if the tumor is growing or shrinking. Radiation is also an issue, that is why they use a MRI for the brain.

                            Gene_S
                            Participant

                              The reason for the use of  CT scans over Pet scans is that the CT scan results can be measured. By measuring the size of the tumor they can determine if the tumor is growing or shrinking. Radiation is also an issue, that is why they use a MRI for the brain.

                              Gene_S
                              Participant

                                The reason for the use of  CT scans over Pet scans is that the CT scan results can be measured. By measuring the size of the tumor they can determine if the tumor is growing or shrinking. Radiation is also an issue, that is why they use a MRI for the brain.

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