Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Cough And Weightloss. Blood Test Showed Glucose Pp 266 And ESR 90. Suggested PET Screen Test. Is This Test Necessary For Diagnosing Real Problem?
My father aged 62 years old was suffering from cough for the entire month of Feb’13. That’s when our family doctor advised him to take his first blood test in the month of March’13. The reports were normal with ESR 30. The chest x-ray and sputum examination has come back clear to rule out TB. Even the microscopic examination and culture test came normal.
Though his cough problem had reduced. He felt weak occasionally and lost around 4 kgs weight within a period of 3 months. We conducted another blood test in the month of April’13. His diabetes has increased to 266 (Blood glucose PP) and ESR shooted upto 90. Thyroid test came negative.
The doctor has advised to go for PET screen test due to increase in ESR level.
Should we go for PET test? I am also curious to know if others have had ESR readings this high, and what was causing it? How do we diagnose the real problem?
Though his cough problem had reduced. He felt weak occasionally and lost around 4 kgs weight within a period of 3 months. We conducted another blood test in the month of April’13. His diabetes has increased to 266 (Blood glucose PP) and ESR shooted upto 90. Thyroid test came negative.
The doctor has advised to go for PET screen test due to increase in ESR level.
Should we go for PET test? I am also curious to know if others have had ESR readings this high, and what was causing it? How do we diagnose the real problem?
Thu, 9 May 2013
Hello,
Your father is a diabetic and it is not under control.
He has increased ESR. You have ruled out TB and Thyroiditis.
ESR is a blood test which measures the inflammation and abnormal proteins.
It is not indicative of any disease.
So differential diagnosis are Polymyalgia rheumatica, Giant cell arteritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, Subacute bacterial endocarditis, myeloma, abscess,
inflammatory bowel disease and osteomyelitis.
Your father is a diabetic and it is not under control.
He has increased ESR. You have ruled out TB and Thyroiditis.
ESR is a blood test which measures the inflammation and abnormal proteins.
It is not indicative of any disease.
So differential diagnosis are Polymyalgia rheumatica, Giant cell arteritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, Subacute bacterial endocarditis, myeloma, abscess,
inflammatory bowel disease and osteomyelitis.
I find this answer helpful
Hi
Welcome to HCM.
Your father is diabetic and with history of cough which lasted for more than 1 month, it is good that he has normal X ray and sputum is negative for Tuberculosis.
I presume he must have been investigated by cytology of sputum and other biochemistry.
There is history of weight loss of 4 kg, we must keep all possibilities.One cause may be due to uncontrolled Diabetes and certainly other causes like malignancy and connective tissue disorders.
ESR is more for prognosis of disease in infection,inflammation and malignancy
PET scan is imaging by which malignancy is detected, this is good investigation although a bit costly.Just high ESR is not the sole cause to get PET Scan.
He must be investigated apart from Scan by sputum cytology,bronchoscopy,BAL,and Tumor markers, Molecular PCR for Tuberculosis.
Please take care.
Good Luck.
Dr.Akhilesh Dubey M.D.
Welcome to HCM.
Your father is diabetic and with history of cough which lasted for more than 1 month, it is good that he has normal X ray and sputum is negative for Tuberculosis.
I presume he must have been investigated by cytology of sputum and other biochemistry.
There is history of weight loss of 4 kg, we must keep all possibilities.One cause may be due to uncontrolled Diabetes and certainly other causes like malignancy and connective tissue disorders.
ESR is more for prognosis of disease in infection,inflammation and malignancy
PET scan is imaging by which malignancy is detected, this is good investigation although a bit costly.Just high ESR is not the sole cause to get PET Scan.
He must be investigated apart from Scan by sputum cytology,bronchoscopy,BAL,and Tumor markers, Molecular PCR for Tuberculosis.
Please take care.
Good Luck.
Dr.Akhilesh Dubey M.D.
I find this answer helpful
1 Doctor agrees with this answer
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Blood test
Loading Online Doctors....