Hi Everybody,
I've never posted here before, so I hope you don't mind me asking for your help. I went in to see my oncologist today as a follow-up for my borderline ovarian cancer. I just had my first PET/CT scan last week. My doctor gave me this 4 page print out of all the things found during my scan and I'm a bit overwhelmed. They found another ovarian cyst on my remaining ovary, a dilated thoracic aorta, and the following in my lung:
"There is no significant abnormal PET activity identified in the lung parenchyma, the lung hilar areas or the mediastinum. There are calcified right hilar lymph nodes present. There is PET activity associated with these calcified lymph nodes, with a maximum PET SUV value of 3.6. This is non-specific but felt to be consistent with a prior granulomatous process. There is also a small, 4 mm size, non-calcified nodule positioned laterally in the lateral segment of the right middle lobe. This nodule is fairly dense but not definitely calcified. Most probably this combination of findings represents a granulomatous complex. However, the nodule itself remains indeterminate, and for that reason a 6 month follow up CT scan of the chest is recommended mainly because this patient apparently does have a prior history of ovarian carcinoma. The patient is, otherwise, felt to be at low risk for primary lung malignancy."
My oncologist suspects Sarcoiditis? I don't have an appointment with a pulmonary doctor until June 17th, so would anyone out there be able to put the above report into English for me? Thanks for your time. I appreciate you reading my post.
Heidi
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Results from PET/CT and need peace of mind
- By royaltudor
- Posted May 26, 2009 at 10:15 pm · 4 replies
- In What, me worry?
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- By Medstudent
- Posted May 27, 2009 at 5:15 pm
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Hi Pat.
Talc can be used to help stop pleural effusions. I believe it can cause calcifications since it is used in powerdered form. I would expect a reaction like calcifications to happen as a side effect.
just out of sheer interest, did you happen to have part of your lung removed? Pleural effusions are a common way of life for people who have had part of or all of their lung removed. The body doesn't like empty cavities so it tries to fill that empty space with fluid. There is 2 theorys behind the fluid. Some doctors leave the fluid and let the body get used to it or absorb it. The other theory is to drain it off when it happens. Its mainly the doctors choice of which method to use.
- By Pat-M
- Posted May 27, 2009 at 2:55 am
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Hi Mr. Med Student! You mentioned calcifications. I had my PET Scan results today. 3 months ago, clean as a whistle, but this time some "areas of calcification" showed between my left lung and lining. My oncologist was "puzzled" but didn't think it was of much concerns, since I had surgery in that area and a pleural effusion with colapsed lung. He said "talc" is often used in patching up the area and sometimes it produces calcified spots. Do you know if this sounds normal?
- By royaltudor
- Posted May 27, 2009 at 12:21 am
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! Medstudent, I appreciate you taking the time to fill me in. You have made me feel a little better about that part of my PET scan. Thanks!
Heidi
- By Medstudent
- Posted May 26, 2009 at 11:45 pm
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Hi Heidi,
Well, from what I’m reading I’ll try to explain. I’ll break down what each term mean and what its saying.
Lung Parenchyma- is the main parts of your lung in order to help you breath. It consists of: respiratory bronchioles, alveoli and capillaries.
- everything looks OK.
Lung Hilar Areas- are the “roots” of the lung. This is where things enter and leave the lung such as: pulmonary artery and veins.
- everything looks OK
Hilar Lymph nodes- Lymph Nodes are found every wheres in the body. The hilar lymph nodes are just describing where the lymph nodes are at.
- on the right side of your chest, you have some calcifications.
Granulomas- are formed when the body tries to get rid of something as it sees as foreign but can’t eliminate. So what it does is forms a shell around it to prevent it from doing harm. Granulomas can be formed from dead cells, bacteria, dust, ect.
There is also a small, 4 mm size, non-calcified nodule positioned laterally in the lateral segment of the right middle lobe.
You have 2 lungs, a right and a left.
The right lung has 3 lobes: Superior lobe (Upper lobe)
Middle lobe
Inferior lobe (lower lobe)
The left lung has 2 lobes: Superior lobe (Upper lobe)
Inferior lobe (lower lobe)
The reason for no Middle lobe is because the heart sits where it should be.
Definitions of lateral and medial
Lateral- means outside or on the edge
Medial- means inside or in the middle
Example: place your hand palm down on the table. Your pinkie finger would be considered lateral and your thumb is considered medial,
So with that being said- you have a nodule that isn’t calcified on the outer edge of your middle lobe of the lung, but is is dense. Which means that it could be in the process of undergoing calcification. Since they don’t know for sure 100% if it will calcify they want you to come back in 6 months to check on it.
Anytime a person has cancer or had cancer, they want to be as close to 100% sure that nothing is going to creep up on them. So they want you to come back for a follow up for their and your piece of mind. They don’t think its cancer, but just want to make sure.
Sarcodosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease. It hits lungs, liver, spleen, skin areas the most. As you just read, you have it in your lungs. They can go away spontaneously but can also leave scar tissue.
This disease can go un-noticed in lots of people since they never get x-rays, you were just lucky to have had an X-ray done to catch it.
Since this is an immune problem, treatments can range from nothing to steroids.
hope that helps, if anything needs to be made more clearly let me know, i'll try to do better.
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