Understanding Suv levels
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Understanding Suv levels

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Understanding Suv levels

  • Post
    • January 20, 2019 at 4:34 pm
    susanmcd
    Participant
    Friends, I am hoping someone can share with me a good link or article that helps explains the Suv levels on a pet scan. Thanks
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  • Replies
      • January 20, 2019 at 5:33 pm
      ed williams
      Participant

      Hi Susan, I have one but it is kind of hard to follow, I had to go over it a couple of times but it is specific to Melanoma. From a personal point of view I have had two and the SUV value was 0 on the second which helped me a lot to know that the tumor in my lung that hasn't change in 5 years is not active cancer. As far as SUV values and what is good or bad that is another story and out of my pay grade. Anything going down is a winner in my book. Good luck in your search for answers!!! Ed https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-role-of-nuclear-medicine-in-malignant-melanoma-2155-9619-1000237.php?aid=57217&view=mobile

        • January 22, 2019 at 12:18 am
        susanmcd
        Participant
        Thank you!
      • January 21, 2019 at 10:55 pm
      mrsaxde
      Participant

      Hi Susan,

      Try Googling "SUV values PET scan" or something similar and you'll get a bunch of results to pick and choose from. Basically the higher the value, the more concerning it is. SUV is a measure of metabolic activity. Cancer cells draw in more of the radioactive sugar they give you for a PET, so a high SUV merits more investigation. The drawback of PET is that things like infections, where your body is working hard to fight the invaders, also can have higher a SUV.

      I hope that helps a little. The articles that are out there are pretty easy to find and will offer you a more complete explanation.

      -Bill

        • January 22, 2019 at 12:22 am
        susanmcd
        Participant
        Thanks! I just had my second pet scan and actually had a few pops which were not on my original so I was trying to figure out if I should be worried. I saw the consensus if over 2.5 may be something, but I was unable to find more details in a simple chart. I will take your advise and google.
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