Do "hot spots" on a PET scan always indicate cancer?!


Question: Do "hot spots" on a PET scan always indicate cancer!?
My brother has been experiencing pain in his shoulder for quite a while!. He was initially treated for a torn rotator cuff, but when he didn't respond to medication and physical therapy, the doctor sent him for a PET Scan!. Immediately after the scan, the radiologist came out and told us that he had "hot spots" in his painful shoulder, both lungs, and various ribs on both sides!. Is it cancer, or could it be something else!? Someone told me that PET scans are only used to pinpoint cancer!. Is this true!? At present, we are waiting for appointments with various specialists -- this has been going on for quite a while!Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Whether or not it is cancer or not, it is too early to tell!. You will have to wait until they have finished testing and probably biopsied one or more of the hot spots!.

Hot spots on a PET scan can be caused by things other than cancer!. Inflammation, as you mentioned, also sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that usually starts in the lungs!. Infections and even arthritis will light up on a PET scan!. I am sure there are other things besides these that will also cause false positives!.

Does he have symptoms besides shoulder pain!? Wheezing!? asthma-like symptoms!? Symptoms of sarcoidosis can be very similar to those of cancer!. A bronchoscopy would tell you for sure if this was cancer or possibly sarcoidosis!.

http://www!.mayoclinic!.com/health/sarcoid!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

PET scans are usually used to detect cancer, but they are also used in detecting brain disorders and heart disease!. They produce a 3D image of the patient where a lot of things can be seen including if their bladder is full!. What makes them invaluable is their ability to measure metabolic activity!. Since cancer cells are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells do, they become intensely bright on the scan and this is where the term



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