You know if an SUV of 2.7 on PET-CT (iliac nodes) is indicative of malignancy?

I can't tell you what an SUV of 2.7 means.

But here's what I do know:

* PET scans can show false positives

* Lymph nodes that are increased in size aren't necessary indicative of melanoma. They could be reactive nodes inflamed by the interferon just as the doctor said.

You had mentioned in your note that the internal organs are clean, so that's a very good thing. To me it sounds like your husband's doctor is just being cautious when he recommended doing another PET in 2 months. The doctor could just as easily have told him this was nothing to worry about.

I can certainly understand the stress you are going through. I think talking to another doctor is a good idea. Hopefully he or she will be able to put you at ease.

I can't tell you what an SUV of 2.7 means.

But here's what I do know:

* PET scans can show false positives

* Lymph nodes that are increased in size aren't necessary indicative of melanoma. They could be reactive nodes inflamed by the interferon just as the doctor said.

You had mentioned in your note that the internal organs are clean, so that's a very good thing. To me it sounds like your husband's doctor is just being cautious when he recommended doing another PET in 2 months. The doctor could just as easily have told him this was nothing to worry about.

I can certainly understand the stress you are going through. I think talking to another doctor is a good idea. Hopefully he or she will be able to put you at ease.

I can't tell you what an SUV of 2.7 means.

But here's what I do know:

* PET scans can show false positives

* Lymph nodes that are increased in size aren't necessary indicative of melanoma. They could be reactive nodes inflamed by the interferon just as the doctor said.

You had mentioned in your note that the internal organs are clean, so that's a very good thing. To me it sounds like your husband's doctor is just being cautious when he recommended doing another PET in 2 months. The doctor could just as easily have told him this was nothing to worry about.

I can certainly understand the stress you are going through. I think talking to another doctor is a good idea. Hopefully he or she will be able to put you at ease.

I remember researching this topic.  I believe most PET facilities have what they call "cut off" values and in general a consistant number over 2.5 SUV is indicative of cancer.  2.7 is very close to the boarderline and the rest below it.

Interferon also interferes with the lymphnodes and activity levels.

The main issue is when they take the second scan several minutes later ex. 30 min., did the SUV continue to rise?  That is more damning for cancer.

You will also read articles about false positives, causes, and SUV uptake behavior.  Your results are confounded by the interferon, and the one node is borderline at best.  PET is only an indicator of metabolic activity.  Usually mel is very metabolic and loves to take up the glucose in very high levels, thus it tends to "light up like an x-mas tree" versus other cancers.

The decision to rescan in a few months while unnerving during the wait, sounds like a reasonable choice of action.  Try to stay busy until then, think about your next options if it is mel, and when it comes back OK, breath a huge sigh of relief.

Hope it all turns out well.

I remember researching this topic.  I believe most PET facilities have what they call "cut off" values and in general a consistant number over 2.5 SUV is indicative of cancer.  2.7 is very close to the boarderline and the rest below it.

Interferon also interferes with the lymphnodes and activity levels.

The main issue is when they take the second scan several minutes later ex. 30 min., did the SUV continue to rise?  That is more damning for cancer.

You will also read articles about false positives, causes, and SUV uptake behavior.  Your results are confounded by the interferon, and the one node is borderline at best.  PET is only an indicator of metabolic activity.  Usually mel is very metabolic and loves to take up the glucose in very high levels, thus it tends to "light up like an x-mas tree" versus other cancers.

The decision to rescan in a few months while unnerving during the wait, sounds like a reasonable choice of action.  Try to stay busy until then, think about your next options if it is mel, and when it comes back OK, breath a huge sigh of relief.

Hope it all turns out well.

I remember researching this topic.  I believe most PET facilities have what they call "cut off" values and in general a consistant number over 2.5 SUV is indicative of cancer.  2.7 is very close to the boarderline and the rest below it.

Interferon also interferes with the lymphnodes and activity levels.

The main issue is when they take the second scan several minutes later ex. 30 min., did the SUV continue to rise?  That is more damning for cancer.

You will also read articles about false positives, causes, and SUV uptake behavior.  Your results are confounded by the interferon, and the one node is borderline at best.  PET is only an indicator of metabolic activity.  Usually mel is very metabolic and loves to take up the glucose in very high levels, thus it tends to "light up like an x-mas tree" versus other cancers.

The decision to rescan in a few months while unnerving during the wait, sounds like a reasonable choice of action.  Try to stay busy until then, think about your next options if it is mel, and when it comes back OK, breath a huge sigh of relief.

Hope it all turns out well.