HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Done With PET Scan And Was Clean Of Any Recurring Cancer. Any Risk In Having A PET Scan In Four Weeks Time?

Posted on Wed, 18 Sep 2013

Question: IS THERE ANY HEALTH RISK IN HAVING A SECOND PET SCAN IN 4 WEEKS TIME? THE FIRST SCAN WAS CLEAN OF ANY RECURRING CANCER.
YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Repeat PET should be done after 12 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting your query.

I routinely advise PET for patients with brain metastases. There should be a gap of at least 12 weeks between two PET scans, to minimize the risk associated with exposure to radiation.

So, I would advise you to delay the repeat PET by at least eight more weeks, unless the information to be obtained from repeat PET is very crucial.

I hope it helps. Please get back if you have any more queries.

Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (15 minutes later)

MY CA125 WAS 8 IN APRIL OF 2013 AND IN JULY WENT TO 24. I RETOOK IT ON AUGUST 27 AND IT WAS 133. WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THESE NUMBERS GOING UP? SHOULD I PANIC?

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Rise in CA 125 alone is not of any concern.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for getting back.
Elevation of CA 125 without any new clinical symptoms is not of much concern. Normally, we do CA 125 if the patient develops new symptoms. The decision to start chemotherapy is more based on the disease activity, and not on CA 125 alone.
So, as of now, please watch for any new symptoms related to the disease.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar