Interpreting a PET CT scan

My wife had a PET scan with the findings including the following language."...Abnormal metabolic activity is also present involving a few mediastinal lobes, the largest located in the subcarinal region. ... There is a subtle soft tissue nodule adjacent to the right psoas muscle with mild increased metabolic activity, raising the possibility of metastatic nodal disease. Maximum SUV in this area is 2.7."  Can someone with knowledge of radiologic language translate this for us?  Many thanks.

 

On 8/10/2009 Andrewbl wrote:

My wife had a PET scan with the findings including the following language."...Abnormal metabolic activity is also present involving a few mediastinal lobes, the largest located in the subcarinal region. ... There is a subtle soft tissue nodule adjacent to the right psoas muscle with mild increased metabolic activity, raising the possibility of metastatic nodal disease. Maximum SUV in this area is 2.7."  Can someone with knowledge of radiologic language translate this for us?  Many thanks.

I have had a number of PET scans and wondered the same.  The first thing I did was research it on the net.  Type in a few of the words and you will be surprised at how much info you will find.  However, an easier way would be to ask your oncologist who should know what they are talking about.  I do know what SUV means - Standard Uptake Value - in other words how "hot" the cancer is or how active it is.  an SUV os 2.7 isn't too high.  I have had SUV at 13, but that was just before surgery.  Dr. now is trying to keep SUV under 3.

I hope your wife is doing well.  It sounds like it from the PET scan.

Gayle

 Thank you Gayle. This was helpful, esp. re. the SUV. We checked with our oncol.but the information one gets is very general; although I understand there not wanting to offer information or a prognosis since results can vary so much. Anyway, I passed your comments along to my wife, and she found it most helpful.

On 8/18/2009 Donna Gayle wrote:

 

On 8/10/2009 Andrewbl wrote:

My wife had a PET scan with the findings including the following language."...Abnormal metabolic activity is also present involving a few mediastinal lobes, the largest located in the subcarinal region. ... There is a subtle soft tissue nodule adjacent to the right psoas muscle with mild increased metabolic activity, raising the possibility of metastatic nodal disease. Maximum SUV in this area is 2.7."  Can someone with knowledge of radiologic language translate this for us?  Many thanks.

I have had a number of PET scans and wondered the same.  The first thing I did was research it on the net.  Type in a few of the words and you will be surprised at how much info you will find.  However, an easier way would be to ask your oncologist who should know what they are talking about.  I do know what SUV means - Standard Uptake Value - in other words how "hot" the cancer is or how active it is.  an SUV os 2.7 isn't too high.  I have had SUV at 13, but that was just before surgery.  Dr. now is trying to keep SUV under 3.

I hope your wife is doing well.  It sounds like it from the PET scan.

Gayle