Does It Make Sense To Do A Pet Scan 5 Days After A Double Biopsy Was Performed?

Posted on Sun, 10 Sep 2023

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 Answered on

Thu, 7 Mar 2024 Last reviewed on

Question : Does it make sense to do a pet scan 5 days after a double biopsy was performed? Could a false positive result at the double biopsy location? Could there be any negative effects from the tracer at the biopsy location?

Answered by Dr. dr. Jawahar Ticku (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Pet scan post Biopsy

Detailed Answer:
Unless biopsy done confirms the presence of malignancy, doing Pet scan is baseless.Pet scan is done to rule out any metastatic focci.
If biopsy is done , doing Pet scan immediately there can be some leakage of the isotope at the site of injury giving the false impression of over activity of tissue due to leaked fdg and this impression of metabolic overactivity will falsely suggest the suspicion of malignancy.
Pet scan has meaning only after the confirmed biopsy report.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. dr. Jawahar Ticku (6 hours later)

Was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and put on the path to a bone marrow transplant. 4 cycles of treatment then transplant. Did the 4 cycles then refused the transplant. Was told I needed maintenance chemo for the rest of my life. I did maintenance for 5 months then quit everything after the neuropathy got bad. Here is the criteria used to determine MM diagnosis. 10% plasma cells, M-spike 2.6, Kappa Lambda ratio 28.8, Hemoglobin 11.9 Calcium normal, Renal Normal They did find one bone lesion on the pet scan. It was at the location of the double biopsy that was performed 5 days before the pet scan. This was all in 2019. Everything went to normal after stopping the maintenance chemo. Recently my Kappa Lambda ratio has gone up to 26, M-spike 2.4 Hemoglobin 11.9 Pet scan last week showed no lesions. Is this MGUS or Smoldering myeloma?

Answered by Dr. dr. Jawahar Ticku (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Remission of M . Myeloma

Detailed Answer:
As I stated earlier that Fdg activity is raised at the injured site which gave the impression of lesion. Since rest of the body did not show any evidence of any lision we should consider that she is in complete remission and the present positive investigation is suggestive of smouldering myeloma. No treatment at the moment is suggested but to remain under close follow up. It is chance that remission can be long lasting.
Unsupported documents claim that consumption of of berry fruits and seeds may prolong the remission or lead to permanant remission.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj