When is a PET scan indicated?

I think different doctors do scans differently. Some only do CT some do PET/CT combo. My doctors at UCSF are very strong about PET/CT combos instead of one or the other, but other doctors think differently about it. Not entirely sure why. A CT is good enough to check and make sure you're all good inside, if there are any mets they can be seen on CT just fine, so I don't believe anything would be missed.

All the best,

I think different doctors do scans differently. Some only do CT some do PET/CT combo. My doctors at UCSF are very strong about PET/CT combos instead of one or the other, but other doctors think differently about it. Not entirely sure why. A CT is good enough to check and make sure you're all good inside, if there are any mets they can be seen on CT just fine, so I don't believe anything would be missed.

All the best,

I think different doctors do scans differently. Some only do CT some do PET/CT combo. My doctors at UCSF are very strong about PET/CT combos instead of one or the other, but other doctors think differently about it. Not entirely sure why. A CT is good enough to check and make sure you're all good inside, if there are any mets they can be seen on CT just fine, so I don't believe anything would be missed.

All the best,

At the beginning, before I moved to the care of my melanoma team, I had an MRI scan of the brain, which was clear, and  a CT scan of the body that showed I had a lump on my abdomen inner wall as well as the lumps in my lymph nodes in my underarm. It was after this that I was referred to my melanoma team.

The melanoma team decided to order a PET scan to check out the lump in my abdomen but that was further down the line.

At the beginning, before I moved to the care of my melanoma team, I had an MRI scan of the brain, which was clear, and  a CT scan of the body that showed I had a lump on my abdomen inner wall as well as the lumps in my lymph nodes in my underarm. It was after this that I was referred to my melanoma team.

The melanoma team decided to order a PET scan to check out the lump in my abdomen but that was further down the line.

At the beginning, before I moved to the care of my melanoma team, I had an MRI scan of the brain, which was clear, and  a CT scan of the body that showed I had a lump on my abdomen inner wall as well as the lumps in my lymph nodes in my underarm. It was after this that I was referred to my melanoma team.

The melanoma team decided to order a PET scan to check out the lump in my abdomen but that was further down the line.

Hi-

I had a pet scan when my mealnoma was first found in 2013….at which point i was stage 1B……since that time I've had 2 intransits or local reucrrenceses…..and am now having CT scans of Neck, Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis every 4 or so months…with a BRAIN MRI done annually……this all being done in the absence of symptoms ro anything new, and as a matter of course.  Should something pop up or creae new cause for alarm scans would be done at that point too.

I dont think PET scans are dobe as routinely after intital staging and diagnosis.  (But it does vary by location)

As an FYI, my care has been at MSK and NYU.

Bets,

jenny

Hi-

I had a pet scan when my mealnoma was first found in 2013….at which point i was stage 1B……since that time I've had 2 intransits or local reucrrenceses…..and am now having CT scans of Neck, Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis every 4 or so months…with a BRAIN MRI done annually……this all being done in the absence of symptoms ro anything new, and as a matter of course.  Should something pop up or creae new cause for alarm scans would be done at that point too.

I dont think PET scans are dobe as routinely after intital staging and diagnosis.  (But it does vary by location)

As an FYI, my care has been at MSK and NYU.

Bets,

jenny

Hi-

I had a pet scan when my mealnoma was first found in 2013….at which point i was stage 1B……since that time I've had 2 intransits or local reucrrenceses…..and am now having CT scans of Neck, Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis every 4 or so months…with a BRAIN MRI done annually……this all being done in the absence of symptoms ro anything new, and as a matter of course.  Should something pop up or creae new cause for alarm scans would be done at that point too.

I dont think PET scans are dobe as routinely after intital staging and diagnosis.  (But it does vary by location)

As an FYI, my care has been at MSK and NYU.

Bets,

jenny

Peggy,

I think it's pretty "standard" to order the CT first.  There are some advantages and disadvantages to both but cost may be one of the factors.  It's my understanding that PETs cost more than CTs.

Over the course of the last 3 years I've probably had a dozen CTs and only about 3 PETs.  Each time I got a PET it was to see if we could find out any additional info on a particular area of concern.  PETs can also sometimes help find things that CTs can't due to the glowing effect that PETs give to melanoma.

Here's a brief summary of CTs and PETs:

Positron emission tomography (PET) and computerized tomography (CT) are both state-of-the-art imaging tools that allow physicians to pinpoint the location of cancer within the body before making treatment recommendations. The highly sensitive PET scan images the biology of disorders at the molecular level, while the CT scan provides a detailed picture of the body's internal anatomy. The PET/CT scan combines the strengths of these two well-established imaging modalities into a single scan.

A CT scan is able to detect and localize changes in the body structure or anatomy, such as the size, shape and exact location of an abnormal growth, a sizeable tumor or a musculoskeletal injury.

A PET scan is very different from an ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. A PET scan allows the physician to distinguish between living and dead tissue or between benign and malignant disorders. Since a PET scan images the biology of disorders at the molecular level, it can help the physician detect abnormalities in cellular activity at a very early stage, generally before anatomic changes are visible.

Alone, each imaging test has particular benefits and limitations but by combining these two state-of the-art technologies, physicians can more accurately diagnose, localize and monitor cancer, as well as heart disease and certain brain disorders.

Good luck Peggy.  Glad to hear you are going to a melanoma specialist.

Peggy,

I think it's pretty "standard" to order the CT first.  There are some advantages and disadvantages to both but cost may be one of the factors.  It's my understanding that PETs cost more than CTs.

Over the course of the last 3 years I've probably had a dozen CTs and only about 3 PETs.  Each time I got a PET it was to see if we could find out any additional info on a particular area of concern.  PETs can also sometimes help find things that CTs can't due to the glowing effect that PETs give to melanoma.

Here's a brief summary of CTs and PETs:

Positron emission tomography (PET) and computerized tomography (CT) are both state-of-the-art imaging tools that allow physicians to pinpoint the location of cancer within the body before making treatment recommendations. The highly sensitive PET scan images the biology of disorders at the molecular level, while the CT scan provides a detailed picture of the body's internal anatomy. The PET/CT scan combines the strengths of these two well-established imaging modalities into a single scan.

A CT scan is able to detect and localize changes in the body structure or anatomy, such as the size, shape and exact location of an abnormal growth, a sizeable tumor or a musculoskeletal injury.

A PET scan is very different from an ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. A PET scan allows the physician to distinguish between living and dead tissue or between benign and malignant disorders. Since a PET scan images the biology of disorders at the molecular level, it can help the physician detect abnormalities in cellular activity at a very early stage, generally before anatomic changes are visible.

Alone, each imaging test has particular benefits and limitations but by combining these two state-of the-art technologies, physicians can more accurately diagnose, localize and monitor cancer, as well as heart disease and certain brain disorders.

Good luck Peggy.  Glad to hear you are going to a melanoma specialist.

Peggy,

I think it's pretty "standard" to order the CT first.  There are some advantages and disadvantages to both but cost may be one of the factors.  It's my understanding that PETs cost more than CTs.

Over the course of the last 3 years I've probably had a dozen CTs and only about 3 PETs.  Each time I got a PET it was to see if we could find out any additional info on a particular area of concern.  PETs can also sometimes help find things that CTs can't due to the glowing effect that PETs give to melanoma.

Here's a brief summary of CTs and PETs:

Positron emission tomography (PET) and computerized tomography (CT) are both state-of-the-art imaging tools that allow physicians to pinpoint the location of cancer within the body before making treatment recommendations. The highly sensitive PET scan images the biology of disorders at the molecular level, while the CT scan provides a detailed picture of the body's internal anatomy. The PET/CT scan combines the strengths of these two well-established imaging modalities into a single scan.

A CT scan is able to detect and localize changes in the body structure or anatomy, such as the size, shape and exact location of an abnormal growth, a sizeable tumor or a musculoskeletal injury.

A PET scan is very different from an ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. A PET scan allows the physician to distinguish between living and dead tissue or between benign and malignant disorders. Since a PET scan images the biology of disorders at the molecular level, it can help the physician detect abnormalities in cellular activity at a very early stage, generally before anatomic changes are visible.

Alone, each imaging test has particular benefits and limitations but by combining these two state-of the-art technologies, physicians can more accurately diagnose, localize and monitor cancer, as well as heart disease and certain brain disorders.

Good luck Peggy.  Glad to hear you are going to a melanoma specialist.