A year ago I was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia in the hip area which I was told would need to be monitored for improvements with PETscans. My first PET Scan showed high metabolic activity in the hip (as was expected) and the liver (4.2 SUV). My oncologist was suprised by the liver reading and ordered another PetScan. This PetScan showed the same results. I then had my chemo and the expectation was the chemo would knock everything out (hip and liver).
I just had my follow-up PetScan (this time it was a PET-CT scan) which showed no abnormal metabolic activity in the hip. The liver still shows metabolic activity (6.2 SUV). I was hoping that my oncologist would want to request a liver biopsy, but he wants to wait a few months. Any opinions ? Whats the downside of requesting a biopsy ? I have put my latest PET-CT scan results below.
Findings:
Multiple low-attenuation lesions were seen in the liver on
a previous CT scan, but NOT on the current PET study. There is only
one focus of increased activity, which is seen in the anterior aspect
of the liver just cephalad to the gallbladder. This measures 1.7 cm in
diamater on the non-infused CT image and has an SUV maximum of
approximately 6.3
Impression:
There
is only one focus of increased activity seen in the liver. This is
situated anteriorly just cephalad to the gallbladder. Neoplasm is not
excluded.
Thanks
LH