After a pet ct can a contrast ct be taken? - 1255022

apra
Posts:142

Just wondering whether it is safe and possible to take a contrast Ct after a pet ct. is it safe? I mean about exposure to radio active chemicals and all that.

I just read a post by Dr. West about the reliability of PE scans for following a disease. Our lat Ct scan was one year ago, so if we do one now would it be compared to that long ago scan or could readings be taken from pet ct.

Thank you.

Apra

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Reply # - March 22, 2013, 08:40 AM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Apra,

I would expect that your husband's recent PET/CT has been compared to the PET in August and the CT a year ago. The problem with switching from one type of scan to another is that you are comparing apples and oranges...each scan detects anomalies in a different way, making direct comparison somewhat difficult. But I think since he had a PET in August, anything new that shows up on the current PET could be examined on the current CT image to get further information about what is there. I'm not sure why you'd get another CT this soon after the PET/CT; you wouldn't expect it to show anything the CT images from the PET/CT don't already show.

As far as the radiation from another CT, it's true that you don't want to be subjected to more scans than necessary, but for a cancer patient the radiation risk from a single scan is far outweighed by the vital information it can provide.

JimC
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Reply # - March 22, 2013, 09:09 AM

apra
Posts: 142

Hai Jm,

No, it was not compared to the Pet in August nor he ct a year ago. That's not how it's done over here. It is only compared to the last Pet, that is November 2012.

My thoughts on the contrat Ct was because the pet was not giving any information on size of tumours, just FDZg avid and non avid and some SUV numbers. So we thought maybe a ct contrat might I've us this.

Thank you or your response.

Apra

Reply # - March 23, 2013, 06:54 AM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

Yes, it's completely possible to have a regular "diagnostic" contrast CT after a PET. In general, my preference, and that of most or all of the experts here, is to do serial CT scans on areas of known disease to follow for response or progression while a person is on treatment, using PET scans either very intermittently or to clarify ambiguous findings on a CT scan.

-Dr. West

Reply # - March 23, 2013, 07:51 AM

apra
Posts: 142

So perhaps we will talk to he Onc about a contrat CT, and all follow ups would be contrat ct only.

Thank Ou Dr. West.

My husband is right now having a treatment break for a week. This is only the first day without Tarceva but his stomach problems seems to be a little better. Also did not sleep whole day. But cough is unresolved. I think he caught the cough from me as I was having a bad cough and still not cured. Maybe will ask the onc to prescribe antibiotics.

Don't know ow safe this treatment break will be but he needs the rest.

Thank you onc again for your concern.

Apra

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