Son with inflammation on PET scan

carrollcs · New User Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

My son has been through several tests over the past 5 months, he began with a lump under his tounge and fever that was about 103 for 10 days. Since then he has experienced fatique, night sweats, severe to minor stomach pain. His blood work has all been negative. He has been tested for all the main infectious diseases, and we were most recently released by the hemoc department after a PET Scan.

[b]Here is my question, the PET scan was normal (the reason we were relased) but it showed inflammation in his colon/bowel. How does a PET scan differentiate between inflammation and malignancy. We have been sent to a gastrointestinal specialist and are having a colonoscopy/endoscopy on Tuesday. My son has lost about 12 pounds through all of this, after a period of weight gain of about 6 to 10 pounds [/b](He was 80 went to 86 and now is 74). The fevers have stopped as have the night sweats, however the stomach pain is significant and his fatigue at times is challenging.

Please advise if you can. Thanks! (Oh my son is 7)

jenugl

Hi carollcs, I can't answer your questions but I just want to let you know that I am thinking of you and praying that your son gets better soon and you get some answers regarding his condition. It is hard but I think you need to persist in asking your questions although I know sometimes it is hard for Drs to diagnose some conditions. Don't give up. Please let us know how you are going. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Jen.

brainman

Hi Caroll, I am very sorry to hear about your son. Is his fever now under control?

One of the doctors can correct me if I am wrong about the PET scan, but I think the difference would be in intensity. A malignancy would show up as a hot, relatively small area whereas and inflammation of the colon with be less intense and over a larger area. I hope the colonoscopy/endoscopy is diagnostic and you can start the appropriate treatments.

You and your son 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/

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Childhood Cancers Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others