Had Biopsy: It was Clean

• By hermanade
• Posted November 6, 2008 at 11:15 am
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I have some concerns that a needle biospy can biopsy from the non-malignant cells in a malignant tumor since the needle only samples what it samples. Any idea what your SUV was?

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• By Bette_Tx
• Posted November 6, 2008 at 11:36 am
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Helen, this is great news. Did they remove the whole tumor or just some cells with a needle. Not wanting to cause anxiety, but like hermanade said, sometimes the needle biopsy only checks those cells removed.

Wishing only the best,

Bette

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• By HelenSuzanne
• Posted November 6, 2008 at 2:26 pm
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I'm not sure I know what you mean? He took cells from a lung nodule. they didn't take it out. Just told me it was some kind of lung infection-but this is coming from a nurse who gave me the results. What is an SUV?
Helen

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• By pattyp1
• Posted November 6, 2008 at 7:09 pm
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hey, Helen,
in the PET, they inject a specially modified sugar into you (glucose) and the places that eat fastest (typically either infection or cancer) scarf up the glucose and light up during the scan. the computer reads how much glucose is in a clustered area and reads it as SUV (I think it's sucrose uptake value) - the more of the glucose, the more active the area - certain SUV values are characteristic of specific cancers.

if you have a lung infection, are they treating it with some kind of medicine (if not, you need to be talking with the doctors, not the nurses).

call the doc and get some answers....

hugs
Pat

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• By HelenSuzanne
• Posted November 7, 2008 at 10:06 am
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I never had a pet scan, only a cat scan with infusion. I am seeing the doctor on monday morning. Will see then what is what. This guy I'm seeing Monday is a surgeon as that is where I was referred by my family doctor. Bet you he refers me to a lung guy or back to the family doctor. The surgeon didn't want to take the whole thing out that's why he went with the needle biopsy.
Helen

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• By kelly0429
• Posted November 18, 2008 at 10:10 am
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Helen: How did your doctor's appointment go? My dad had a needle lung biopsy last week. Thank God, it came out clear from cancer (results: atypical benign cells). Just wondering what your doctor recommended as a next step. Our doctor recommended a PET scan.

Has anyone else experienced this, a negative needle biopsy that did end up coming back cancerous? I want to be happy, but know that these things are not 100% accurate and that we are not out of the woods yet. Speaking of that, does anyone know the accuracy rate for a needle biopsy?

Thanks,
Kelly

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• By HelenSuzanne
• Posted November 18, 2008 at 4:45 pm
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I need to have a cat scan in feb. that was what was recommended. Also a tb test, and oddly enough, the test came out positive for tb. I have always been negative. If you look up on the net (google needle lung biopsy) there is a nice site by a radiology group. I think it lists the accuracy percentages. I believe on tumors, the percentage of accuracy is high--on other, it is not as good.
It concerns me that the needle biopsy may have missed cells, but I think the cat scan in feb. will let me know for sure;a tumor will increase in size. In the meantime, I try not to worry about it. I am glad for your dad that his tests came back clean.

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• By D1
• Posted November 19, 2008 at 1:19 am
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Dear Helen,
When they do needle biopsies, they take many samples. Also, these docs tend to err on the side of caution. So, if they told you it is NOT cancer, I would believe them. The fact they are going to monitor you closely and the fact that you have quit smoking are all in your favor. I agree you dodged a bullet.....I wish you good luck throwing the infection and the TB and getting better and staying better.
D

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