Importance of PET scans?
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Importance of PET scans?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Importance of PET scans?

  • Post
    • November 29, 2012 at 11:17 pm
    POW
    Participant

    My brother (Stage IV with brain mets) has had many CT scans and MRIs but never a PET scan. Nobody at the VA or at Moffitt ever suggested one. Is there any particular reason to use PET vs CT vs MRI?

    My brother (Stage IV with brain mets) has had many CT scans and MRIs but never a PET scan. Nobody at the VA or at Moffitt ever suggested one. Is there any particular reason to use PET vs CT vs MRI?

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  • Replies
      • November 29, 2012 at 11:41 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      PET scans are usually done if you are trying to find if/where melanoma is the body.  I had for the first 6 years of my stage 4 and when they found something they suspected they would do a CT.  Once my cancer became active they have switched me to Mri's and Ct's.

      In my case the PEt picked up the melanoma in my arms – twice.  A CT does not scan the arm. 

      Linda

      • November 29, 2012 at 11:41 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      PET scans are usually done if you are trying to find if/where melanoma is the body.  I had for the first 6 years of my stage 4 and when they found something they suspected they would do a CT.  Once my cancer became active they have switched me to Mri's and Ct's.

      In my case the PEt picked up the melanoma in my arms – twice.  A CT does not scan the arm. 

      Linda

      • November 29, 2012 at 11:41 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      PET scans are usually done if you are trying to find if/where melanoma is the body.  I had for the first 6 years of my stage 4 and when they found something they suspected they would do a CT.  Once my cancer became active they have switched me to Mri's and Ct's.

      In my case the PEt picked up the melanoma in my arms – twice.  A CT does not scan the arm. 

      Linda

      • November 29, 2012 at 11:47 pm
      JC
      Participant

      Is it true MRIs are not great for parts that move (lungs)? 

      • November 29, 2012 at 11:47 pm
      JC
      Participant

      Is it true MRIs are not great for parts that move (lungs)? 

        • November 29, 2012 at 11:53 pm
        awillett1991
        Participant
        I don’t know about lungs but I’ve had many cardiac MRIs. PET returns many false positives which leads to more worry and more tests. That’s why many docs don’t like them. There are very good with detecting bone mets however and I have a history so I get them every 6 mos.
        • November 29, 2012 at 11:53 pm
        awillett1991
        Participant
        I don’t know about lungs but I’ve had many cardiac MRIs. PET returns many false positives which leads to more worry and more tests. That’s why many docs don’t like them. There are very good with detecting bone mets however and I have a history so I get them every 6 mos.
        • November 29, 2012 at 11:53 pm
        awillett1991
        Participant
        I don’t know about lungs but I’ve had many cardiac MRIs. PET returns many false positives which leads to more worry and more tests. That’s why many docs don’t like them. There are very good with detecting bone mets however and I have a history so I get them every 6 mos.
      • November 29, 2012 at 11:47 pm
      JC
      Participant

      Is it true MRIs are not great for parts that move (lungs)? 

      • November 30, 2012 at 5:41 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      The reason for the use of  CT scans over Pet scans is that the CT scan results can be measured. By measuring the size of the tumor they can determine if the tumor is growing or shrinking. Radiation is also an issue, that is why they use a MRI for the brain.

      • November 30, 2012 at 5:41 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      The reason for the use of  CT scans over Pet scans is that the CT scan results can be measured. By measuring the size of the tumor they can determine if the tumor is growing or shrinking. Radiation is also an issue, that is why they use a MRI for the brain.

      • November 30, 2012 at 5:41 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      The reason for the use of  CT scans over Pet scans is that the CT scan results can be measured. By measuring the size of the tumor they can determine if the tumor is growing or shrinking. Radiation is also an issue, that is why they use a MRI for the brain.

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