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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Lung Nodule and CT/PET Scan
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Lung Nodule and CT/PET Scan
by edison lady, Mar 23, 2005 12:00AM
My chest x-ray showed a lesion on my right lung on the posterior side. I was asked to go for a CT scan which showed the lung lesion at the same place. The radiologist recommended to go for a PET Scan to see if the lesion was metabolically active. The PET scan showed the lesion to be an active lesion and biopsy was recommended. I am young and not a smoker and I have no symptoms and my abdomen and pelvis CT scan/colonoscopy/gyneacolgical exam did not show any abnormality. The surgeon recommended me to wait for 6 months and take another CT Scan of the chest to see if there was any change in the lesion/nodule. The lung specialist also recommended a CT Scan after 3 months. What should I do, should I wait for another CT scan or go for surgery to do biopsy where my surgeon will remove the lesion/nodule. The lung specialist said that needle biopsy may not be helpful and VAT should be done in case I donot want to wait. Please suggest what sholud I do. Thanks a lot.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Mar 31, 2005 12:00AM
, Mar 31, 2005 12:00AM
This is difficult to answer because PET Scan interpretation is quite technical.
The decision to proceed now or wait 3-6 months should be based on the degree of suspicion that this lesion is malignant. You should ask the Pulmonologist to provide details about the likelihood of this lesion being benign or malignant, based on the CT & PET. The PET Scan uptake activity is concerning.
Unless your physicians can give a high probability that this lesion is benign, you should proceed to surgical removal (not biopsy) now. Under no circumstance would I wait 6 months. If the decision is made to wait and watch, 3 months is long enough.
The decision to proceed now or wait 3-6 months should be based on the degree of suspicion that this lesion is malignant. You should ask the Pulmonologist to provide details about the likelihood of this lesion being benign or malignant, based on the CT & PET. The PET Scan uptake activity is concerning.
Unless your physicians can give a high probability that this lesion is benign, you should proceed to surgical removal (not biopsy) now. Under no circumstance would I wait 6 months. If the decision is made to wait and watch, 3 months is long enough.
Member Comments (1)
by Liz215, Jul 26, 2008 07:46PM
A related discussion, lung liver kidney lesion with low monocyte was started.
