Scan Finding
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Scan Finding

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Scan Finding

  • Post
    • June 30, 2016 at 8:49 pm
    Bradley75
    Participant

    I had my every three month PET/CT this week and the came up with something that I am not sure about.  It reads as: new 5×10 mm FDG avid nodule or lymph node in the perirenal fat inferior to the right kidney.  They go on to say SUV max 3.2.  This is concerning for possible metastasis. 

    Their recommendation was to come back and have another scan in 6 to 8 weeks.  They want to see what changes happen and either remove it or call it reactive.  I have had lymph nodes light up the scan in the past year that have been determined to be reactive lymph nodes, so that would be nothing new for me.  There was one under my right arm that had a fine needle, ultrasound biopsy performed on it and it came back benign.  There has never been one near an organ, if that makes a difference  The kidney one can't be handled that way so the only way to know what's going on is to have it surgically removed.

    The issue I am having is the waiting 6 to 8 weeks.  My onc gave reasons why we should wait, but it is hard to be at ease about waiting.  The thought of it getting worse while we sit and wait is not good for the soul.  My care team is Mayo in Rochester so I think trusting their opinion is a decent option, but I hate waiting.  Anyone have any input?

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  • Replies
      • June 30, 2016 at 10:07 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Pretty standard.  If you would have had a nodule in your lung, or a blip on your liver, chances are you would be waiting 3 months for a followup scan.  As you said, you've had reactive nodes before and that is fairly common.  3.2 certainly isn't HIGH – I've seen a lot higher for melanoma but it's not nothing either.  No one will propose invasive surgery to remove at this point without more info behind it – like growth!

      • June 30, 2016 at 10:07 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Pretty standard.  If you would have had a nodule in your lung, or a blip on your liver, chances are you would be waiting 3 months for a followup scan.  As you said, you've had reactive nodes before and that is fairly common.  3.2 certainly isn't HIGH – I've seen a lot higher for melanoma but it's not nothing either.  No one will propose invasive surgery to remove at this point without more info behind it – like growth!

      • June 30, 2016 at 10:07 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      Pretty standard.  If you would have had a nodule in your lung, or a blip on your liver, chances are you would be waiting 3 months for a followup scan.  As you said, you've had reactive nodes before and that is fairly common.  3.2 certainly isn't HIGH – I've seen a lot higher for melanoma but it's not nothing either.  No one will propose invasive surgery to remove at this point without more info behind it – like growth!

      • July 1, 2016 at 12:31 am
      jennunicorn
      Participant

      Gotta love scanxiety! Lymph nodes love to light up, and as you have already been known to have reactive nodes, that is probably what it is. That's not very large and uptake is not a lot. My reactive lymph node that shows up is 0.8cmx1.1cm which is almost the same size that yours is (yours in mm and mine is in cm) and the uptake is 2.5 on my last scan and was 3.0 on the scan before that. Had the fine needle aspiration on it and no melanoma found. I wouldn't stress too much about it. My last scan showed a spot on my lung and there isn't anything I can do about it but wait 3 months for my next scan and see what it looks like then. 

      Try not to stress, I know it's hard but sometimes there isn't anything we can do but wait and see. Until then, forget about it and enjoy summer 🙂

      • July 1, 2016 at 12:31 am
      jennunicorn
      Participant

      Gotta love scanxiety! Lymph nodes love to light up, and as you have already been known to have reactive nodes, that is probably what it is. That's not very large and uptake is not a lot. My reactive lymph node that shows up is 0.8cmx1.1cm which is almost the same size that yours is (yours in mm and mine is in cm) and the uptake is 2.5 on my last scan and was 3.0 on the scan before that. Had the fine needle aspiration on it and no melanoma found. I wouldn't stress too much about it. My last scan showed a spot on my lung and there isn't anything I can do about it but wait 3 months for my next scan and see what it looks like then. 

      Try not to stress, I know it's hard but sometimes there isn't anything we can do but wait and see. Until then, forget about it and enjoy summer 🙂

      • July 1, 2016 at 12:31 am
      jennunicorn
      Participant

      Gotta love scanxiety! Lymph nodes love to light up, and as you have already been known to have reactive nodes, that is probably what it is. That's not very large and uptake is not a lot. My reactive lymph node that shows up is 0.8cmx1.1cm which is almost the same size that yours is (yours in mm and mine is in cm) and the uptake is 2.5 on my last scan and was 3.0 on the scan before that. Had the fine needle aspiration on it and no melanoma found. I wouldn't stress too much about it. My last scan showed a spot on my lung and there isn't anything I can do about it but wait 3 months for my next scan and see what it looks like then. 

      Try not to stress, I know it's hard but sometimes there isn't anything we can do but wait and see. Until then, forget about it and enjoy summer 🙂

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