Doctors, Radiologists? PET Scan Results?

Question

In plain English....what does this mean?

Mild heterogeneous metabolic activity within the liver without a focal lesion identified on the current CT images or previous CT of the abdomen with contrast. Ths may be contributed by artifact. Continuous surveillance with contrast CT imaging of the abodmen is recommended.

Additional Info: Breast cancer patient - finished with treatments. PET scan was done as a follow up to a cat scan three months ago.

Answer 1

It means that your Dr is supposed to follow up on you by ordering more CT scans with contrast every 2-3 months for a while because there is mildly suspicious metabolic activity (slight lighting up on the PET scan) going on in your liver. This may be due to artifact (some type error in the processing of the scan)  or it might be something else. At this time they can not tell whether or not there is something to worry about so they are suggesting more scans.

My guess is that you are fine and the scans are the Dr just being extra careful because after all this is cancer and you would not want to get 18 months down the road and find out you now have a huge tumor in your liver. Yes it sucks to leave you with any trace of worry but at least they did not find any cancer at this time and they are taking any risk very seriously. Sounds like you have good Drs.

good luck