Need Help Understanding Impression

B&H1997 · Experienced user Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 51

Could someone help me understand this impression that was on my husbands PET Preliminary report:
"6.9 X 3.9 cm hypermetabolic right upper lobe mass, worrisome for a neoplastic process. There is corresponding mediastinal and right hilar adenopathy."
I understand the size of his tumor and location as well as having lymph node involvement. But I am a bit confused on the rest. I know that the oncologist will explain more on Wed. but I would like to know more about it now as well. It really helps me to know what they are talking about when I go in there.
Thank you for any help you may be able to give give.
Bernice
_________________
Husband was diagnosed 6-5-08 with Stage IIIA Lung Cancer- NSCLC- Squamous Cell Carcinoma

brainman

Bernice, I will try to dissect this report for you but first a general explanation of how a PET Scan works. Cancer cells grow much faster than normal cells. Therefore, they use up a lot more sugar. Before the PET Scan is done, they inject the patient with a sugar that is radioactively tagged. Now to your questions:

1. "hypermetabolic" = using up a lot more energy sources than normal cells

2. "worrisome for a neoplastic process" = the radiologist this the it might be a "neoplastic process" = cancer. But he/she is not 100% sure of this.

3. "There is corresponding mediastinal and right hilar adenopathy" = swollen lymph nodes that might be associated with the suspected cancer. If these two things are true, it does mean that your husband "cancer" has metastasized.

Conclusion:
By no means short you read this interpretation as the final answer. Only your husband's oncologist knows enough about your husband to make a diagnosis. Even if my interpretation is right on the money, even the radiologist report lends itself to some doubt.

I hope this explanation helps and does not frighten you.

You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

B&H1997 · Experienced user Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 51

Hi Jim,
Thank you so much for explain the PET scan impression for me. It is infact what the oncologist told us but not in those words. All these works they use in medicine can really throw a person into a frenzie Rolling Eyes

Today Harvey goes for his simulation process for radiation.
Thank you again Smile

Bernice
_________________
Husband was diagnosed 6-5-08 with Stage IIIA Lung Cancer- NSCLC- Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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